The Ladbrokes World Hurdle, formerly known as the Stayers Hurdle until 2005 is run over a distance of 3miles and it is the most prestigious staying hurdle race on the National Hunt calendar.
Galmoy a dual winner in ‘87 & ’88 was a personal favourite of mine as a young lad and it is a race I thoroughly enjoy at the festival. The Grade 1 contest is run on the third day and this year’s renewal is a fascinating contest.
The race itself has a recent history of multiple winners and none more so than the enigmatic Big Buck’s (pictured). The Paul Nicholls trained gelding has been victorious on four occasions, 2009-2012, but unlike previous years circumstances have changed and questions have to be answered.
Big Buck’s
For starters, regular jockey Ruby Walsh (successful on all four previous occasions) will not be in the saddle this time round. No disrespect to young Sam Twiston-Davies (an accomplished jockey), he has only ridden the now 11-year-old once in his comeback run.
Some partnerships take time to blossom and there has been very little time to blossom here.
Next is the fact the son of Cadoudal, has only had one run since his long lay-off in Dec 2012. By finishing third to the gallant Knockara Beau in January, he showed his well-being, no more and it will take a vast improvement to regain the title he last won in 2012.
Lastly, no 11-year-old has won this race since 1986, Crimson Embers and there has never been a 10-year-old winner since the present version of this race was introduced back in 1972. This tells me that the race is extremely hard to win the older you get, and with younger talent coming through, it will take a huge effort from the Stewart Family owned gelding.
When all is considered, you have to take him on and find the winner elsewhere.
At Fishers Cross
Owned by J P McManus, the son of Oscar is an interesting contender. Having looked a world beater over C&D in last year’s Albert Bartlett for novices, the 7-year-old has failed to win a race this season in three attempts.
It is easy to get carried away with the gelding’s latest effort. By finishing second, beaten a short head, it could be argued that the Rebecca Curtis trained contender was coming back to form. If you look at the race more closely though, I would argue different.
In the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham, it was a good run and no more. The winner Knockara Beau won off an official rating of 145 and the fifth Quartz De Thaix rated 147 finished just 13 lengths adrift. Yes, Big Buck’s finished third but as highlighted above, this was way below his best rating of 174 back in his prime.
You would probably need binoculars to find both Knockara Beau and Quartz De Thaix in any renewal of the World Hurdle and unless there is vast improvement to come, I cannot see At Fishers Cross winning. However there is one plus for his fans.
The 7-year-old’s record at Cheltenham reads, 1112 which suggests he likes the track. On the day, if the ground rides heavy the Irish bred should run an honest race.
I would however be disappointed if the son of Oscar was good enough to win this year’s renewal, whatever the ground description on the day.
Annie Power
It is still up for grabs which race this exciting Mare will participate in. For me, it has to be the World Hurdle. Trainer Willie Mullins still has the 6-year-old entered in the Champion Hurdle, but with the stable already having a strong hand in the race, this should be the port of call.
There is no doubt that she is better than her current mark of 163. The furthest the Mare has travelled is an extended 2m4f at Cheltenham, where she slammed Zarkandar by 8 lengths on soft/heavy ground, jumping fluently but for the last.
I feel once stepped up to 3miles, we will see more improvement and it will take a good one to beat her. The Rich Ricci owned Mare is unbeaten in ten starts, seven have come over hurdles and if participating, she will be partnered by Big Buck’s past jockey Ruby Walsh, a massive plus.
The Irish bred has a chance in the Champion Hurdle, but I feel she is nailed on here and is destined to join last year’s winner Solwhit as being only the second Irish trained winner of this race in the last nineteen years.
More Of That
Having progressed through handicaps, this lightly raced 6-year-old won his last race when stepped up to Grade 2 Company.
Owned by J P McManus, who also owns At Fishers Cross, A P McCoy will have to decide which one to ride. I suspect “At Fishers” will be the choice but it is not a foregone conclusion in my book.
Like Annie Power, the son of Beneficial has gone no further than an extended 2m4f and on his latest start he showed he can handle Cheltenham, by beating the decent Salubrious by 2 ¼ lengths.
The Irish bred is improving and may well run a big race come March. I am not convinced with his jumping however and over 3miles, he may be found wanting in that department. The Jonjo O’Neill trained gelding has each-way prospects at best.
Zarkandar
Trained by Big Buck’s handler Paul Nicholls, the 7-year-old is for me a live contender. A model of consistency over the years, the son of Azamour deserves his chance over the longer distance of 3miles.
The gelding has won on all types of ground and finished fourth in last year’s Champion Hurdle won by Hurricane Fly, beaten just over 6 lengths. This season you could say he has a touch of seconditis, having lost to Annie Power twice, Melodic Rendezvous and Champion Hurdle contender The New One.
On three occasions the Irish bred was well beaten, but I suspect the eight times winning hurdler will improve considerably once stepped up in trip and better ground. I don’t think he can beat the Irish Mare, but if things go astray or she misses the race, this fellow could take advantage.
With an official rating of 165, any improvement over the longer trip puts him right in the frame and I suspect he be there in the mix of things at the finish.
Rule The World
Trained by previous winning Irish trainer Mouse Morris, Trapper John 1990, the son of Sulamani is in with a shout. The 7-year-old’s line of form when second to The New One at Cheltenham is the best piece of novice form from 2013.
Beaten 4 lengths that day the British bred gelding kept on well up the hill in the 2m5f Neptune Hurdle, and I suspect improvement may be forthcoming over this longer distance. Mouse Morris knows how to prepare a horse and I suspect he has brought him along nicely with this race in mind the whole season.
I seriously doubt he can win but with improvement likely to come, expect this fellow to be there about at the business end of the race.
Of the others, Reve De Sivola is not as good round Cheltenham as Ascot, were the 9-year-old has won two Long Walk Hurdles in very heavy conditions. The gelding finished fourth in this race last year and although he should run his race, it may not be good enough.
Celestial Halo who has run well at Cheltenham on numerous occasions and was second in this event last year to Irish raider Solwhit. The son of Galileo ran a cracker going down by 2 ½ lengths when stepped up in trip.
However now a 10-year-old, the Nicholls trained gelding could finish only third in a Grade 2 Hurdle at Haydock, and is hard to fancy on that evidence.
The Noel Meade trained Monksland, is worth a mention. The 7-year-old was a good novice hurdler, finishing third to the highly talented Simonsig, in the Neptune back in 2012.
Unfortunately an injury has kept the son of Beneficial off the track since 2012. Unlike Big Buck’s, it looks like the gelding will not have a prep run beforehand and it would be a massive training performance by Meade for this fellow to triumph.
Summary
Four times Champion Big Buck’s, is now an 11-year-old. In a race were mostly 9-year-old’s or younger succeed; it would take a huge training feat from Paul Nicholls to make it five after such a lay-off
Even allowing for improvement on his return, I very much doubt the iconic hurdler can get the better of the younger brigade. There is also the “bounce factor” to consider and for all the reasons highlighted, the former champ is overlooked.
Zarkandar, Rule The World and More of That all have claims but the Willie Mullins trained Mare, Annie Power looks a special talent. The exciting 6-year-old has slammed Zarkandar twice this season and if improving for this longer trip, looks very likely, she is the one they all have to beat receiving the Mares allowance of 7 lb.
Wagga Man’s Verdict
Annie Power
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