Duc scores, Drever injured

Duc De Regniere walked away with the Long Distance Hurdle to hand Tony McCoy and Nicky Henderson a hat-trick, but the race was marred by what could be a career-ending injury to Inglis Drever.

World Hurdle winner Inglis Drever had won the Newbury race three times, but was never travelling well and was pulled up after the turn for home be Denis O'Regan.

With the favourite out of the race, the powerfully-travelling Duc De Regniere stormed away with a commanding five-length victory to complete McCoy and Henderson's hat-trick.

Petit Robin had previously returned from a near 12-month lay-off to coast to a 13-length success, while Shouldhavehadthat won the first of the treble.

"They went no pace and it was always going to suit my horse," McCoy said of Duc De Regniere.

Pace

"As long as I could keep him in contention I knew he had a good chance of winning.

"He's an improving horse - the boss (Henderson) thought about going chasing before today. I don't know, the race really played into his hands, it was a very falsely run race."

Henderson said: "In fairness we only really sent him hurdling to get his confidence back to run over fences. I think we are going to have to change the plan now.

"You would have to think about the World Hurdle, and perhaps the Long Walk next.

"But the main thing today is that I hope Inglis Drever is all right because he has been such a star."

Henderson may not get wish as Inglis Drever could have run his last race as, although the injury was not as bad as connections feared, it may be enough to end his racing days.

"It is not as bad as we thought and it looks like he has sprung a tendon off his hock," trainer Howard Johnson's assistant Ray Hawkey said.

Drever concern

"But I would think that would mean retirement.

"He seems fine in himself and I believe it will be just be a case of strapping him up and taking him home, although I am not 100% certain about that, we will have to wait and see."

Owner Graham Wylie added: "It wasn't great and Howard said the race wasn't run to suit and was too slow, and he caught his leg on a hurdle.

"The vet says it is his hind leg, but Howard thinks it is his front. We will just have to wait and see what the vet's say when they have assessed him and then make a decision about his future.

"It is a sad way to end that race and we know he has had tendon problems in the past."