RECORD ENTRY FOR LADBROKES WORLD HURDLE A new record of 61 entries has been received for the Grade One Ladbrokes World Hurdle, with record prize money of £275,000, on day three of The Festival, St Patrick’s Thursday, March 14. The previous highest number of entries was 56, while the maximum number of runners is 24. Big Buck’s, who set a new record by winning the past four renewals, is not among the entries due to injury but his trainer Paul Nicholls has six in the 2013 three-mile hurdling championship headed by Grade One winning chasers Tidal Bay (6/1 with the sponsor) and Kauto Stone (20/1) plus unexposed French import Wonderful Charm (25/1). Oscar Whisky (7/1) has been in imperious form this season, winning the Grade Two Ascot Hurdle and the Grade Two Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham by an aggregate of 28 lengths. The eight-year-old heads seven entries for trainer Nicky Henderson and could clash with impressive Grade One Long Walk Hurdle victor Reve De Sivola (8/1), trained by Nick Williams, in the Grade Two Rewards4Racing Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day, Saturday, January 26. Other notable British-trained entries include Peddlers Cross (10/1) David Pipe’s pair Grands Crus (12/1) and Dynaste (20/1) who have been running in chases, as well as exciting novice hurdler Coneygree (16/1), trained by Mark Bradstock. The 17 Irish-trained entries are headed by 10 from champion trainer Willie Mullins, whose possible representatives include four-time OLBG Mares’ Hurdle heroine Quevega (the 5/1 favourite with Ladbrokes) and Grade One winners Zaidpour (14/1) and Thousand Stars (14/1). Monksland (8/1), trained by Noel Meade, relished the step up to three miles when a comfortable winner of the Grade Two Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown, beating Zaidpour by two and a half lengths. The pair had previously met in the Grade One Hatton’s Grace Hurdle over two and a half miles, with Zaidpour coming out on top by the same margin. Monksland, who has not been out of the first three in seven starts under Rules, is now being prepared for a trip to Cheltenham. Meade said on Tuesday: “All is well with him at the moment and the plan is to run Monksland in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle. I am just giving him an easy time - a bit of break - and then we will start building him up for Cheltenham. “We were hopeful he would get the three miles at Leopardstown because he was staying on well in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle but maybe the way the race was run suited us. The leader went off at a hell of a gallop and perhaps the favourite followed him sooner than he should have, but Paul (Carberry) was very good on Monksland. “With Big Buck’s out of it, the World Hurdle has opened up. Monskland obviously stays well but he isn’t a slow horse and has the speed to win over two miles. “The plan is not to run him before Cheltenham and we are hoping there could be a bit more improvement to come from him. We have been purposely easy on him, as he is a very clear winded horse and doesn’t take a lot of work to get fit. We are hoping by keeping him fresh that we will be able to prolong his longevity.” Another notable Irish entry is Dermot Weld’s 2010 Ascot Gold Cup hero Rite Of Passage (not quoted by Ladbrokes), who defied a 510-day absence to win Grade Three QIPCO Long Distance Cup, also on the Flat, at Ascot in October. He has won on two of his three starts over hurdles and came third to Peddlers Cross in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at The Festival in 2010. Hayley O’Connor of Ladbrokes said: “The absence of the heroic Big Buck's means this year’s race is the most open it has been for years. We’re extremely pleased to see the depth and quality of the entries which suggests this will be a highly-competitive and intriguing renewal of the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.” Runners and Form
LADBROKES WORLD HURDLE Class 1, Grade One, £275,000 Total Prize Fund, three miles. Cheltenham, 3.20pm, Thursday, March 14, 2013. For four-year-olds and upwards which are allotted a rating of 130 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including March 7 - horses which are not qualified for a rating in GB, IRE or FR may also be entered (such horses may be eligible providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horseâs racecourse performances up to and including March 7 would merit a minimum rating of 130 â the decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final). Weights: 4yo: 11st 1lb; 5yo+: 11st 10lb; fillies & mares allowed 7lb. Entries closed January 15, entries revealed January 17 (61 entries). Scratchings deadline February 12, £13,750 supplementary entry stage & six-day confirmation stage March 8, final declarations 10am, March 12. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, January 14. Form Horse Age Owner Trainer 2 AAIM TO PROSPER (IRE) 9 CGA Racing Partnership 2 Paul Nicholls 3P2-100 AMERICAN SPIN 9 G Collacott & R Gadd Luke Dace 240/14-0 ANY GIVEN DAY (IRE) 8 Tim Leslie Donald McCain 111-P33 ATTAGLANCE 7 H Young, G Eifert, R Snyder Malcolm Jefferson 42/241-3 AVOCA PROMISE (IRE) 8 Bailey-Carvill Equine Charles Egerton 10/-2111 BACK IN FOCUS (IRE) 8 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE 4U21-16 BEAR'S AFFAIR (IRE) 7 G B Barlow Nicky Henderson F2/5215/- BENSALEM (IRE) 10 Alan Marsh & John Duggan Alan King 11/1114//- BERGO (GER) 10 Gary Moore Gary Moore F13-F11 BOG WARRIOR (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Tony Martin IRE 411-051 CAPE TRIBULATION 9 David Abell Malcolm Jefferson 131120- CELESTIAL HALO (IRE) 9 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls 3122-24 CHAMPION COURT (IRE) 8 Martin Boothright Martin Keighley 524536- CLOUDY SPIRIT 8 Norma Harris Reg Hollinshead 10-111 CONEYGREE 6 The Max Partnership Mark Bradstock 50P2-22 CRACK AWAY JACK 9 GDM Partnership Tom George 20-0026 CROSS KENNON (IRE) 9 P And Mrs G A Clarke Jennie Candlish 2511-20 DUKE OF LUCCA (IRE) 8 Lesley Field Philip Hobbs 420-111 DYNASTE (FR) 7 A J White David Pipe 345-341 FAIR ALONG (GER) 11 Alan Peterson Philip Hobbs /12/1/10/- FIVEFORTHREE (IRE) 11 Olde Crowbars Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE 2U14/0/2- GENERAL MILLER 8 Henry Ponsonby Nicky Henderson 221-14P GET ME OUT OF HERE (IRE) 9 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill 3-51P36 GOLDEN CHIEFTAIN (IRE) 8 Brocade Racing Colin Tizzard 1114-P3 GRANDS CRUS (FR) 8 Roger Stanley & Yvonne Reynolds III David Pipe 130-240 HOLLOW TREE 5 Brannon Dick Holden Donald McCain 20F0-1P KAUTO STONE (FR) 7 Robin Geffen Paul Nicholls 1122-13 KENTFORD GREY LADY 7 Ian Bare Emma Lavelle 41-5564 LOVCEN (GER) 8 The Barbury Apes Alan King 1130- MAKE YOUR MARK (IRE) 6 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins IRE 2121-22 MARASONNIEN (FR) 7 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE 064-112 MIDNIGHT GAME 6 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins IRE UPP-1F3 MINELLA CLASS (IRE) 8 Deal George Kelvin-Hughes Nicolson Nicky Henderson 113-121 MONKSLAND (IRE) 6 Patricia Hunt Noel Meade IRE 2PP-015 MOSSLEY (IRE) 7 Bill Hennessy Robbie Hennessy IRE 1(1)51-11 OSCAR WHISKY (IRE) 8 Walters Plant Hire Ltd Nicky Henderson 2/141-21 OSCARA DARA (IRE) 8 BG Racing Partnership Nicky Henderson 20/1120- PEDDLERS CROSS (IRE) 8 Tim Leslie Donald McCain 351/51-1 PRINCE DE BEAUCHENE (FR) 10 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE 453-204 PROSPECT WELLS (FR) 8 Andrea & Graham Wylie Paul Nicholls 11/1/111- QUEVEGA (FR) 9 Hammer & Trowel Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE 01F11P RED NOT BLUE (IRE) 10 The Plum Merchants Simon Earle 4053-21 REVE DE SIVOLA (FR) 8 Paul Duffy Diamond Partnership Nick Williams 13/4113//- RITE OF PASSAGE 9 Dr Ronan Lambe Dermot Weld IRE 21/11P-6 RIVERSIDE THEATRE 9 Jimmy Nesbitt Partnership Nicky Henderson 000-1U3 ROBERTO GOLDBACK (IRE) 11 Simon Munir Nicky Henderson 12632- SADLER'S RISK (IRE) 5 Roger Brookhouse Philip Hobbs 123U-32 SMAD PLACE (FR) 6 Mrs Peter Andrews Alan King 306/1//1-0 SNAP TIE (IRE) 11 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs 1110-43 SO YOUNG (FR) 7 Mrs M McMahon Willie Mullins IRE 264-16P SOLIX (FR) 7 Paul Vogt Ian Williams 2/1222/-2 SOLWHIT (FR) 9 Top Of The Hill Syndicate Charles Byrnes IRE 23-1143 THOUSAND STARS (FR) 9 Hammer & Trowel Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE 541-121 TIDAL BAY (IRE) 12 Andrea & Graham Wylie Paul Nicholls 236-113 TRUSTAN TIMES (IRE) 7 Mrs M E Armitage & Peter Armitage Tim Easterby 345P-22 WALKON (FR) 8 McNeill Family Alan King 005134 WHATUTHINK (IRE) 11 Redgap Partnership Oliver McKiernan IRE 1 WHISPERING GALLERY 7 Bloomfields John Ferguson 3B-1020 WON IN THE DARK (IRE) 9 Gerard Crehan Sabrina Harty IRE 42512-1 WONDERFUL CHARM (FR) 5 Robin Geffen Paul Nicholls 02-2512 ZAIDPOUR (FR) 7 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE 61 entries 17 Irish-trained Latest prices from Ladbrokes: 5/1 Quevega; 6/1 Tidal Bay; 7/1 Oscar Whisky; 8/1 Monksland, Reve de Sivola; 10/1 Peddlers Cross; 12/1 Get Me Out of Here, Grands Crus; 14/1 Bog Warrior, Thousand Stars, Zaidpour; 16/1 Coneygree, Oscara Dara; 20/1 Cape Tribulation, Dynaste, Kauto Stone, Riverside Theatre, Smad Place; 25/1 Wonderful Charm; 33/1 Attaglance, Back In Focus, Bear's Affair, Crack Away Jack, Fiveforthree, Kentford Grey Lady, Solwhit, So Young, Trustan Times; 40/1 Bensalem, Champion Court, Fair Along, Make Your Mark, Prince de Beauchen; 50/1 Aaim To Prosper, Any Given Day, Bergo, Celestial Halo, Lovcen, Marasonnien, Midnight Game, Prospect Wells, Sadler's Risk, Snap Tie, Walkon, Whispering Gallery; 66/1 Cross Kennon, Duke of Lucca, General Miller, Roberto Goldback, 100/1 American Spin, Hollow Tree, Minella Class, Solix, Whatuthink; 150/1 Avoca Promise, Cloudy Spirit, Golden Chieftain, Mossley, Red Not Blue, Won In The Dark (Rite Of Passage is not quoted) Each Way 1/4 1-2-3
Monksland seems set to head to the World Hurdle without a preparation run: Racing Post Noel Meade, trainer of 8-1 shot Monksland, confirmed on Thursday he was an intended runner: "All is well with him at the moment and the plan is to run Monksland in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle," Meade said. "I am just giving him an easy time - a bit of break - and then we will start building him up for Cheltenham. "We were hopeful he would get the three miles at Leopardstown because he was staying on well in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle but maybe the way the race was run suited us. The leader went off at a hell of a gallop and perhaps the favourite followed him sooner than he should have, but Paul [Carberry] was very good on Monksland. "With Big Buck's out of it, the World Hurdle has opened up. Monskland obviously stays well but he isn't a slow horse and has the speed to win over two miles. "The plan is not to run him before Cheltenham and we are hoping there could be a bit more improvement to come from him. We have been purposely easy on him, as he is a very clear winded horse and doesn't take a lot of work to get fit. We are hoping by keeping him fresh that we will be able to prolong his longevity."
Latest scratchings LADBROKES WORLD HURDLE Class 1, Grade One, £275,000 Total Prize Fund, three miles. Cheltenham, 3.20pm, Thursday, March 14, three miles. For four-yearolds and upwards which are allotted a rating of 130 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including March 7 - horses which are not qualified for a rating in GB, IRE or FR may also be entered (such horses may be eligible providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horseâs racecourse performances up to and including March 7 would merit a minimum rating of 130 â the decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final). Weights: 4yo: 11st 1lb; 5yo+: 11st 10lb; fillies & mares allowed 7lb. Entries closed January 15, entries revealed January 17 (61 entries). Scratchings deadline February 12 (33 remain), £13,750 supplementary entry stage & six-day confirmation stage March 8, final declarations 10am, March 12. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, February 11. Form Horse Age Owner Trainer 23 AAIM TO PROSPER (IRE) 9 CGA Racing Partnership 2 Paul Nicholls 3P2-1000 AMERICAN SPIN 9 G Collacott & R Gadd Luke Dace 240/14-0 ANY GIVEN DAY (IRE) 8 Tim Leslie Donald McCain 10/-2111 BACK IN FOCUS (IRE) 8 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE 11/1114/ BERGO (GER) 10 Gary Moore Gary Moore F13-F111 BOG WARRIOR (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Tony Martin IRE 131120- CELESTIAL HALO (IRE) 9 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls 3122-242 CHAMPION COURT (IRE) 8 Martin Boothright Martin Keighley 524536- CLOUDY SPIRIT 8 Norma Harris Reg Hollinshead 20-00266 CROSS KENNON (IRE) 9 P and Mrs G A Clarke Jennie Candlish /12/1/10/ FIVEFORTHREE (IRE) 11 Olde Crowbars Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE 221-14P GET ME OUT OF HERE (IRE) 9 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill 1114-P3P GRANDS CRUS (FR) 8 Roger Stanley & Yvonne Reynolds III David Pipe 130-2400 HOLLOW TREE 5 Brannon Dick Holden Donald McCain 1122-133 KENTFORD GREY LADY 7 Ian Bare Emma Lavelle 113-121 MONKSLAND (IRE) 6 Patricia Hunt Noel Meade IRE 2PP-015 MOSSLEY (IRE) 7 Bill Hennessy Robbie Hennessy IRE 2/141-210 OSCARA DARA (IRE) 8 BG Racing Partnership Nicky Henderson 1(1)51-112 OSCAR WHISKY (IRE) 8 Walters Plant Hire Ltd Nicky Henderson 20/1120-2 PEDDLERS CROSS (IRE) 8 Tim Leslie Donald McCain 351/51-1 PRINCE DE BEAUCHENE (FR) 10 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins IRE 453-204 PROSPECT WELLS (FR) 8 Andrea & Graham Wylie Paul Nicholls 11/1/111- QUEVEGA (FR) 9 Hammer & Trowel Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE 4053-211 REVE DE SIVOLA (FR) 8 Paul Duffy Diamond Partnership Nick Williams 123U-32 SMAD PLACE (FR) 6 Mrs Peter Andrews Alan King 2/1222/21 SOLWHIT (FR) 9 Top Of The Hill Syndicate Charles Byrnes IRE 1110-432 SO YOUNG (FR) 7 Mrs M McMahon Willie Mullins IRE 541-121 TIDAL BAY (IRE) 12 Andrea & Graham Wylie Paul Nicholls 236-113 TRUSTAN TIMES (IRE) 7 Mrs M E Armitage & Peter Armitage Tim Easterby 0051343 WHATUTHINK (IRE) 11 Redgap Partnership Oliver McKiernan IRE 1 WHISPERING GALLERY 7 Bloomfields John Ferguson 42512-1 WONDERFUL CHARM (FR) 5 Robin Geffen Paul Nicholls 02-25122 ZAIDPOUR (FR) 7 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins IRE 33 entries after February 12 scratchings deadline THE FOLLOWING 28 HORSES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED: ATTAGLANCE, AVOCA PROMISE (IRE), BEAR'S AFFAIR (IRE), BENSALEM (IRE), CAPE TRIBULATION, CONEYGREE, CRACK AWAY JACK, DUKE OF LUCCA (IRE), DYNASTE (FR), FAIR ALONG (GER), GENERAL MILLER, GOLDEN CHIEFTAIN (IRE), KAUTO STONE (FR), LOVCEN (GER), MAKE YOUR MARK (IRE), MARASONNIEN (FR), MIDNIGHT GAME, MINELLA CLASS (IRE), RED NOT BLUE (IRE), RITE OF PASSAGE, RIVERSIDE THEATRE, ROBERTO GOLDBACK (IRE), SADLER'S RISK (IRE), SNAP TIE (IRE), SOLIX (FR), THOUSAND STARS (FR), WALKON (FR), WON IN THE DARK (IRE)
I think they'll leave her in all the way in case something bizarre happened in the Mares.(like her falling at the first or something).
I fancy PEDDLERS CROSS and backed him the other day at 14/1. I think he'll love the step up in trip, he's a gutsy so and so who loves abattle (which thi siwll be) and has previous winning Fest form (and a 2nd in the Champion Hurdle). He'll do for me. Not quite sure Oscar Whisky will stay a true run 3m at Chelt, I don't fancy Reve De Sivola on any ground not described as heavy, Monksland I think will place as he's improving, Tidal Bay a NR, Quevega NR as Mares is target, Smad Place not good enough, who else is there ??
Is there no possibility at all of Quevega doing the double ? (Mares and World Hurdle) it's not as ludicrous as first seems.
Its crossed my mind quite a few times. If she wins the Mares in a racecourse gallop, I think connections have to seriously consider going for the World considering she's streets clear of the opposition.
Good luck Wuby with Peddlers. He's got way too many question marks for me to think about taking him at 14/1. He'll have to reproduce a mark around the Champion Hurdle second to win this race and he's not looked remotely capable of doing that since he lost to Hurricane Fly. There's the distance questions mark as well. 33/1 would be a decent value play but I don't see any value in his current price. Having said that i'd like to see him come back to relevance.
Nah Reve De Sivola is no mug on good ground. Ran a blinding second in the Neptune on good ground behind Peddlers Cross when that one was actually a good horse.
Unfortunately i think Peddlers Cross is too slow these days, and lost that magic quick pace that led to him pushing Hurrican Fly all the way in the Champion. Has not been all that impressive in his runs this season to warrant serious respect.
