Ladbrokes World Hurdle

June 17, 2011
Online Betting King
Cheltenham Festival
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Cheltenham Ladbrokes World Hurdle

Cheltenham Festival race guide – Ladbrokes World Hurdle betting

Where to start with the feature race on race day number three. Well, there can only be one place and that is the hat-trick seeking Big Bucks. Paul Nicholls’ French Import really is the definition of a wonderhorse. The 7yo has tasted defeat only once at Cheltenham and just four times in his progressive career and looks certain to give this years Ladbrokes World Hurdle a really good go. He won the 2009 running at odds of 6/1 and by the time the 2010 Cheltenham festival came around again he had not lost a race and went off the 5/6 favourite. But as good horses do, he justified those odds with ease and many expect him to join Inglis Drever as the most successful World Hurdle horse with a third success in 2011. Can he do it?

Big Bucks or not?

The leading long-distance event in the National Hunt calendar will await Big Bucks amongst others, as they prepare to jump twelve hurdles over three miles exactly. Horses four years plus can qualify for this event and Big Bucks last year scooped a fantastic £260,000 purse. And if the early ante-post market is trusted, then Big Bucks should go close in his attempt of another huge cash windfall. Race sponsors Ladbrokes have him at even money but some bookmakers are as short as 4/5. It is extremely likely he will go off odds against so take advantage of this even money before the price is gone, after all he has the form on paper and is the star performer in the field so what could possibly stop you?

Others to consider….

Well, there are some other good hurdlers being bandied about for this race, none more so than Nicky Henderson’s Zaynar. This 5yo grey won his first five career starts as a 4yo (two of those at Cheltenham) but is yet to get his head in front in 2010 which is a slight worry. Ladbrokes go 6/1 he rediscovers his form in time for the World Hurdle. Quevega is another potential entry and it will be interesting to see whether he goes for this or the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle on the opening day.

Form, facts and records

The World Hurdle is a real test of a staying hurdler and as Howard Johnson’s Inglis Drever proved on three occasions, the ability to get up the Cheltenham Hill when there’s little left in the tank is the key. Big Bucks has proved his worth at it and we’re all anxious to see whether he repeat his successes and enter his name in the Cheltenham record books. Its worth taking in the trial runs at Cheltenham in January, the Byrne Group Cleeve Hurdle will provide a good idea as to where Big Bucks and other World Hurdlers are in terms of their peak performances. However, it might pay to stay away from the Irish for a change though, they have a dismal record in this Grade 1 and haven’t trained a winner since the 1995 renewal, but could their luck be in this year?

Realistically, it would be nice to pitch up some other potential winners of this race but its just so hard to get away from Big Bucks. And while you may not get big bucks back if you do back him, he’s sure to be one of the most backed horses of the entire festival. We saw punters hopping on at 5/6 last year and that is sure to happen once more although it’s not something punters enjoy – backing horses at odds on. But it does look like his race to lose but if he does fail in his hat-trick bid it will be his own doing and not because he was beaten by a better horse!