2011 Ladbrokes World Hurdle Form

Race OverviewThe threat posed by Grands Crus does not look quite so potent on drying ground and BIG BUCK'S looks poised to make history by landing the stayers' championship event for a third consecutive time. While he has not had to produce his best form this season there is no reason to suppose his powers are on the wane. Despite a question mark over his stamina, stablemate Celestial Halo makes some each-way appeal at a big price.[Frank Carter]

Odds provided by Paddypower

No.		Runner	Details	Rating
1		Any Given Day (IRE) J M Maguire D McCain	6 yrs / 164 lbs 214224	159

CommentAny Given Day

Smart at about 2m4f but unproven at much further; more needed

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
19/02/11	HAY 24HyCl1 G2Hd,19K	162 lbs	Graham Lee	4/6 34 3/4l, Cross Kennon[2/1]11-8
01/01/11	CHL 20GSCl2 Hd,13K	162 lbs	Jason Maguire	2/7 7l, Oscar Whisky[7/2]11-4
11/12/10	CHL 20GSCl1 G2Hd,20K	156 lbs	Jason Maguire	2/12 1 3/4l, Karabak[10/1]11-2
14/11/10	CHL 16GSCl1 G3HdHc,57K	155 lbs	Henry Brooke	4/17 6 1/4l, Menorah[11/1]11-12
23/10/10	CHP 20SftCl1 LisHdHc,17K	148 lbs	Henry Brooke	1/13 10l, Dantari[7/1]10-5

Show Form

 

2

Ashkazar (FR) T J Murphy D Pipe

7 yrs / 164 lbs 1-4851

161

CommentAshkazar

Moody but career-best latest and unexposed as a stayer

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
01/01/11	CHL 24GSCl2 HdHc,9K	166 lbs	Timmy Murphy	1/17 3 1/4l, Junior[20/1]10-3 blinkers
11/12/10	CHL 20GSCl1 G2Hd,20K	160 lbs	Timmy Murphy	5/12 13 3/4l, Karabak[40/1]11-2
20/11/10	ASC 19GSCl1 G2Hd,51K	162 lbs	Timmy Murphy	8/8 64l, Silviniaco Conti[16/1]11-4
06/11/10	WCN 16GdCl1 G2HdHc,34K	162 lbs	Timmy Murphy	4/10 8 1/2l, Nearby[9/1]10-5
24/04/10	SAN 16GdCl1 LisHd,12K	162 lbs	Timmy Murphy	1/6 9l, Siberian Tiger[11/4]11-0 cheekpiece

Show Form

 

3

Berties Dream (IRE) A E Lynch P J Gilligan

8 yrs / 164 lbs 1-4456

150

CommentBerties Dream

Improved at 3m on good here last year; lowest BHA rating

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
13/02/11	NAV 21HyG2Hd,23K	164 lbs	P Carberry	6/9 12 1/4l, Voler La Vedette[16/1]11-3
15/12/10	FAI 20SftNvG1Ch,46K	164 lbs	A E Lynch	5/9 32 1/2l, Jessies Dream[20/1]11-10
13/11/10	CHL 24GSCl2 NvCh,9K	153 lbs	A E Lynch	4/8 30 1/2l, Wayward Prince[7/2]11-4
25/10/10	GAL 22Gd/YCh,11K	166 lbs	A E Lynch	4/15 9l, Jessies Dream[4/1]11-12
19/03/10	CHL 24GdCl1 NvG1Hd,57K	161 lbs	A E Lynch	1/19 6l, Najaf[33/1]11-7

Show Form

 

4

Big Buck's (FR) R Walsh P Nicholls

8 yrs / 164 lbs 111-11

174

CommentBig Buck's

Unbeaten in last 10; hard to beat in World Hurdle hat-trick bid

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
29/12/10	NBY 24GSCl1 G1Hd,23K	161 lbs	A P McCoy	1/6 6l, Lough Derg[2/13F]11-7 visor
27/11/10	NBY 24GSCl1 G2Hd,29K	162 lbs	A P McCoy	1/6 3l, Duc De Regniere[2/7F]11-0
08/04/10	Ain 24GdCl1 G1Hd,57K	161 lbs	R Walsh	1/7 2 1/4l, Souffleur[30/100F]11-7
18/03/10	CHL 24GdCl1 G1Hd,148K	164 lbs	R Walsh	1/14 3 1/4l, Time For Rupert[5/6F]11-10
29/12/09	NBY 24HyCl1 G1Hd,39K	161 lbs	R Walsh	1/8 3 1/2l, Karabak[1/2F]11-7

Show Form

 

6

Cross Kennon (IRE) A O'Keeffe J Candlish

7 yrs / 164 lbs -61B21

153

CommentCross Kennon

Improving mudlark but look vulnerable on the ground at top level

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
19/02/11	HAY 24HyCl1 G2Hd,19K	162 lbs	Alan O'Keeffe	1/6 6l, Bensalem[8/1]11-4
26/01/11	HUN 26SftCl2 HdHc,8K	166 lbs	Alan O'Keeffe	2/13 4l, Mr Moonshine[11/2]10-8
10/12/10	CHL 24GdCl2 HdHc,9K	157 lbs	Alan O'Keeffe	BD/16Lush Life[11/2F]11-2
13/11/10	CHL 25GSCl1 LisHdHc,14K	151 lbs	Alan O'Keeffe	1/13 3l, Viking Blond[9/2J]10-10 blinkers
24/10/10	Ain 24GSCl3 HdHc,6K	165 lbs	Alan O'Keeffe	6/13 28 1/2l, The Shy Man[9/2J]10-11

Show Form

 

7

Fiveforthree (IRE) D J Casey W Mullins

9 yrs / 164 lbs 12/1-1

163

CommentFiveforthree

Peak form of two seasons ago leaves him with something to find

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
16/02/11	PUN 16HyHd,9K	157 lbs	P Townend	1/6 4l, Newmill[4/7F]11-0
30/04/09	PUN 24Sft/HyG1Hd,120K	164 lbs	R Walsh	1/10 7l, Pettifour[5/4F]11-10
04/04/09	Ain 20GSCl1 G1Hd,97K	161 lbs	P Townend	2/16 1/2l, Solwhit[7/1]11-7
17/03/09	WEX 16YHd,13K	166 lbs	R Walsh	1/7 7l, Splurge[4/9F]11-12
25/04/08	PUN 20GdNvG1Hd,50K	164 lbs	R Walsh	2/11 2l, Tranquil Sea[3/1]11-10

Show Form

 

8

Grands Crus (FR) T Scudamore D Pipe

6 yrs / 164 lbs 12-111

169

CommentGrands Crus

No telling what heights he will reach but good ground a concern

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
29/01/11	CHL 24GSCl1 G2Hd,23K	158 lbs	Tom Scudamore	1/14 10l, Knockara Beau[2/1F]11-0
20/11/10	HAY 24GSCl1 LisHdHc,43K	150 lbs	Tom Scudamore	1/18 10l, Barafundle[6/4F]10-8
14/11/10	CHL 21GSCl2 HdHc,13K	153 lbs	Tom Scudamore	1/17 6l, For Non Stop[5/1]10-12
23/02/10	TAU 17SftCl4 NvHd,4K	163 lbs	Tom Scudamore	2/13 4l, Sanctuaire[15/8]10-7
31/01/10	PLU 21SftCl4 NvHd,3K	159 lbs	Tom Scudamore	1/7 8l, Abey M'Boy[7/2]11-5

Show Form

 

9

Mourad (IRE) P Townend W Mullins

6 yrs / 164 lbs 13-411

158

CommentMourad

Progressive upped to 3m and still more to come but stiff task

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
28/01/11	GOW 24SftG2Hd,21K	162 lbs	P Townend	1/6 6l, Moskova[4/9F]10-12
28/12/10	LEO 24HyG2Hd,26K	160 lbs	P Townend	1/10 2l, Powerstation[7/4F]11-8
15/12/10	FAI 20SftG1Hd,49K	164 lbs	Ms K Walsh	4/11 5 1/4l, Hurricane Fly[12/1]11-10
22/04/10	PUN 24GdG1Hd,93K	163 lbs	D J Casey	3/13 4 1/2l, Quevega[11/2]11-5
05/04/10	FAI 20HyG3Hd,18K	157 lbs	R Walsh	1/6 12l, Donnas Palm[5/2]11-8

Show Form

 

10

Powerstation (IRE) D N Russell E O'Connell

11 yrs / 164 lbs -10825

157

CommentPowerstation

Third in last two World Hurdles but age not on his side

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
28/01/11	GOW 24SftG2Hd,21K	162 lbs	Barry Geraghty	5/6 17 1/2l, Mourad[11/2]11-8
28/12/10	LEO 24HyG2Hd,26K	162 lbs	Barry Geraghty	2/10 2l, Mourad[12/1]11-6
15/12/10	FAI 20SftG1Hd,49K	164 lbs	N P Madden	8/11 17 3/4l, Hurricane Fly[50/1]11-10
18/07/10	TIP 16GdG3Hd,37K	163 lbs	S G McDermott	10/12 54l+, Bahrain Storm[10/1]11-4 blinkers
10/05/10	KLN 22GFChHc,14K	149 lbs	D N Russell	1/15 Hd, Head Waiter[3/1F]9-7

Show Form

 

11

Restless Harry H Oliver R Dickin

7 yrs / 164 lbs -33733

153

CommentRestless Harry

Behind big two last twice and will do well to get in the money

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
29/01/11	CHL 24GSCl1 G2Hd,23K	158 lbs	Henry Oliver	3/14 10 1/4l, Grands Crus[7/1]11-4 tongue str
29/12/10	NBY 24GSCl1 G1Hd,23K	161 lbs	Henry Oliver	3/6 6 1/4l, Big Buck's[12/1]11-7
11/12/10	CHL 20GSCl1 G2Hd,20K	160 lbs	Henry Oliver	7/12 17 1/2l, Karabak[11/2]11-2
20/11/10	ASC 19GSCl1 G2Hd,51K	158 lbs	Henry Oliver	3/8 8 1/2l, Silviniaco Conti[9/1]11-4
23/10/10	CHP 20SftCl1 LisHdHc,17K	163 lbs	Henry Oliver	3/13 11 1/2l, Any Given Day[6/1]10-8

Show Form

 

12

Rigour Back Bob (IRE) Andrew J McNamara E O'Grady

6 yrs / 164 lbs 146132

154

CommentRigour Back Bob

Effective on fast ground but likely to find a few too good

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
13/02/11	NAV 21HyG2Hd,23K	162 lbs	Andrew J McNamara	2/9 2l, Voler La Vedette[4/1]11-3
28/12/10	LEO 24HyG2Hd,26K	162 lbs	Andrew J McNamara	3/10 4 1/2l, Mourad[9/1]11-6
18/12/10	NAV 20SftG2Hd,24K	162 lbs	Andrew J McNamara	1/6 2 1/2l, Stonemaster[7/1]11-5
14/11/10	PUN 22Sft/HyHd,12K	161 lbs	Andrew J McNamara	6/10 15 1/2l, Askanna[5/1]10-4
30/10/10	NAA 20SftHd,12K	161 lbs	Andrew J McNamara	4/4 42 1/4l, Shinrock Paddy[13/8]11-10

Show Form

 

13

Souffleur Tom O'Brien P Bowen

8 yrs / 164 lbs 04122-

151

CommentSouffleur

Flattered by proximity to Big Buck's at Aintree; back from layoff

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
08/04/10	Ain 24GdCl1 G1Hd,57K	161 lbs	Tom O'Brien	2/7 2 1/4l, Big Buck's[16/1]11-7
28/02/10	FON 20HyCl1 G2Hd,34K	165 lbs	Tom O'Brien	2/7 2l, Trenchant[7/2]11-7 blinkers(1
20/02/10	HAY 25SftCl1 G2Hd,26K	158 lbs	Tom O'Brien	1/8 1 3/4l, Kayf Aramis[8/1]11-8
23/01/10	ASC 19SftCl1 G2HdHc,26K	145 lbs	Tom O'Brien	4/17 7 1/4l, Mamlook[40/1]10-1
11/12/09	CHL 24SftCl2 HdHc,13K	159 lbs	Seamus Durack	14/15 48 3/4l, Time For Rupert[40/1]11-7

Show Form

 

14

Zaynar (FR) B J Geraghty N Henderson

6 yrs / 164 lbs 233-44

158

CommentZaynar

Top class at his best but unreliable and unproven beyond 2m4f

Date	Race Conditions	Weight	Jockey	Race Outcome
11/12/10	CHL 20GSCl1 G2Hd,20K	160 lbs	Barry Geraghty	4/12 13 1/4l, Karabak[4/1F]11-2
20/11/10	ASC 19GSCl1 G2Hd,51K	162 lbs	Barry Geraghty	4/8 9l, Silviniaco Conti[13/8F]11-4
10/04/10	Ain 20GdCl1 G1Hd,91K	161 lbs	Barry Geraghty	3/7 8l, Khyber Kim[11/8F]11-7
16/03/10	CHL 16GSCl1 G1Hd,211K	164 lbs	Andrew Tinkler	3/12 9 1/2l, Binocular[15/2]11-10
18/02/10	KEL 18SftCl2 Hd,11K	164 lbs	Barry Geraghty	2/4 1l, Quwetwo[1/14F]11-2

Show Form

 

1 Non Runners: Celestial Halo

We saw the great Big Buck's make his seasonal debut at Newbury in the Long Walk Hurdle and as expected he won in some style, it was not a great field but he never looked in trouble with AP McCoy on board. Big Buck's claimed another win this season with a comfortable victory in the Long Walk Hurdle back at Newbury at the end of December and he showed his class on what is likely to be his last run before the Cheltenham Festival.

Perhaps the closest challenger to Big Buck's this season could be Karabak who won the Relkeel Hurdle at the Cheltenham International Hurdle back in December, ridden by AP McCoy he produced his best run for some time and on that form he could be a nice each-way price for the World Hurdle.

Another one who will be looking to take Big Buck's on is Mourad who after winning the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas was slashed for the World Hurdle. The Willie Mullins horse was highly impressive that day and followed that up with an equally impressive run in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park last time. Mourad was the class of the field as he cruised to another victory with Paul Townend on board, he was hardly off the bridle and won with something in hand suggesting he could be a challenger to the favourite at Cheltenham.

The Cleeve Hurdle is always a key World Hurdle trial and in Grands Crus we saw a winner of the very highest quality this season. The David Pipe horse recorded his third win of the season and simply hacked up at Cheltenham back in January to win the Cleeve and was slashed across the board for the World Hurdle. Grands Crus was never off the bridle and looks to have an impressive turn of foot making him a real challenger to Big Buck's, we know he gets the trip and looks to be still improving making him a live contender as the betting suggests.

As well as Mourad, Willie Mullins also looks set to run Fiveforthree in the World Hurdle this year and he is another one with a chance after some good performances so far this season. He has just had the one run this campaign after a long lay-off and he duly scored well at Punchestown last month in the Free Festival Upgrade Offer Ends Today Hurdle. He beat Newmill into second place and proved he still had plenty of class, he has much to prove in this company though and that is reflected in the latest betting.

Connections have decided to let Zaynar take his chance in the World Hurdle this season after struggling at his more common 2 mile Champion Hurdle distance. He is a former winner of the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Festival and went into the Champion Hurdle last season well backed for the win and ran a respectable third behind Binocular and Khyber Kim. So far this season we have not seen the best of him with a 4th place at Ascot back in November in the Coral Hurdle on his record first time out over 2m 3f. He followed that up with another 4th place at Cheltenham in December in the Relkeel Hurdle over 2m 4f, it should be noted that he hung badly in the home straight and seemed to have lost some of his old spark. We are yet to see him over three miles on track so at this stage it is a bit of a head scratcher, he is a class horse at his best and does run well at Cheltenham so cannot be completely ignored.

Cheltenham Festival - Betting Tips