Trainer Cindy Alderson hopes Destiny Calls can take a lead from his more-decorated stablemate Hooker Road and bounce back in the Ted Best Hurdle at Moonee Valley.Alderson was at a loss to explain the cause of the five-year-old's sub-standard performance last start which led to him being pulled up in the Winterset Hurdle (3300m) at Sandown on June 3."I don't know what happened to him," said Alderson who co-trains the gelding with her father Colin."He is much better than that."Jockey Brian Constab

Trainer Cindy Alderson hopes Destiny Calls can take a lead from his more-decorated stablemate Hooker Road and bounce back in the Ted Best Hurdle at Moonee Valley.

Alderson was at a loss to explain the cause of the five-year-old's sub-standard performance last start which led to him being pulled up in the Winterset Hurdle (3300m) at Sandown on June 3.

"I don't know what happened to him," said Alderson who co-trains the gelding with her father Colin.

"He is much better than that."

Jockey Brian Constable told stewards that he retired Destiny Calls from the race after he made a faulty leap at the hurdle in the straight and again at the fifth hurdle near the 1400 metres.

Destiny Calls has since pleased the stable with hopes that Saturday's race at the Valley will get him back on track for better races this season.

The Aldersons are revelling in the success of Hooker Road, who last week won the Australian Hurdle, but Alderson said that because of the big weights the small horse is now being forced to carry he may have to step up to steeplechase racing.

She said the prestigious Hiskens Steeplechase (3700m) at Moonee Valley on July 25 could be his target.

Alderson said Destiny Calls wasn't in the same league as Hooker Road but was still a very capable jumper.

"Hooker Road is more genuine but I think Destiny Calls is a more dashing jumper," Alderson said.

Destiny Call's last start was his first over jumps this season and Alderson is hopeful that being a dual hurdle winner last season he will improve.

She said a better indication of his ability was his narrow second to Pentiffic in a hurdle trial at Cranbourne five days before his Sandown failure.

"If he ran up to that trial then he should be a good chance," Alderson said.

Pentiffic is topweight for the Ted Best with 68 kilograms and will be ridden by Craig Durden while Destiny Calls has the services of Brett Scott.

Durden came off Pentiffic in last week's Australian Hurdle at Sandown when the favourite blundered after jumping the third last obstacle.

Co-trainer Brian Johnston said Pentiffic was unhurt except for suffering a bloody nose when it hit the ground.

Pentiffic is the early favourite for the Ted Best Hurdle while Destiny Calls is on the third line of betting behind the Michael Kent-trained The Pentagon.