Hello, Having reviewed the Gold Cup and the Champion Hurdle in some form or another, it is time to look at the race that excited and intrigued me in equal measures, the World Hurdle. Cast the mind back to 29th November 2009, a certain horse was bidding to win the Hennessy Gold Cup off a mark of 153. The horse was ridden by an under pressure Sam Thomas, for the formidable Paul Nicholls yard, and the rest is history. Coming into the last he was in third place, looking set to take a hand in the finish, but he blundered and unseated Sam Thomas, and the story of Big Buck's the World Hurdle hero began in earnest. In as much earnest as the downward spiral for Sam Thomas' career. For every winner we have at least one loser. Roll on to 2014 and the World Hurdle, we get to see Big Buck's coming back to try and retain a crown he lost due to injury the year previous. He was beaten on his reappearance, but showed that he was still a good horse, having looked the winner at the last, prior to tiring close to home. Would the crack hurdler return to form? Unfortunately it wasn't to be for Big Buck's, he faded once again to finish a well beaten fifth, and got a deserved applause after it was announced that he was to retire. Goodbye old boy, but think what might have been had he not blundered away Sam Thomas!!! This career would have been very different and we wouldn't be saying Baracouda, Inglis Drever, Big Buck's, the heroes of the World Hurdle!! So one superstar retires, and onto the scene we might be heralding two new ones, with the race winner (and unbeaten) More Of That looking a real force in the staying hurdles sphere for time to come. As a six year old, he has been improving rapidly, from handicap winner to World Hurdle hero in one season, the sort of story we might be regaling in years to come. However, it was a horse by the name of Annie Power who might just be starting on her story of redemption after going down bravely to defeat by More Of That, and losing her unbeaten record as result. She was stepping up to three miles for the first time, and at her first Cheltenham festival, she did very well to battle to the front with More Of That before finding that horse too good at the line. This defeat however may just be a blessing in disguise for National Hunt fans as Annie Power may now be going Novice Chasing, and what an exciting prospect she would be over fences. Unlike More Of That, she doesn't have a title to defend, and as a horse who looks capable of thrusting herself into the limelight over fences. She is big enough to jump fences and she looks clever and athletic at her hurdles, something that should see her flourish over big obstacles. Back in third was At Fishers Cross, showing that the form of the race is strong and that it was probably one of the better races of the festival, whilst Zarkandar stayed on takingly in fourth, a nice return to some form by the Paul Nicholls hurdler. It was a race about the past, and also one that could give us two big names for the future, with More Of That and the wonderful Annie Power. Then go full circle, the horse who won the Hennessy that fateful day, a certain Madison Du Berlais, a horse who went on to slaughter Denman by 23 lengths and then Exotic Dancer later in his career. Perhaps that Hennessy was a win win situation for both Big Buck's and Madison Du Berlais. If only the same could be said for Sam Thomas.
I think this years winner will go over fences...Why wouldn't he?...the stayers hurdle (arse of a race) is for failed 'chasers and those too slow for the Champion Hurdle,like BB..JP doesn't possess a top class staying 'chaser so no reason this chap won't go over birch. Annie Power will be trained for the Champion Hurdle..The winners of the proper novice hurdles at the Festival will go fencing under the same ownership and should have most bases covered.
Beefy. It isn't up to Jonjo Nass...this horse will go 'chasing...It would be a terrible waste if they din't.
I might be wrong but didn't More of That come from the P2P scene, which would strengthen the probability of him going down the chasing route? I think I heard that somewhere.
Bought at Tattersalls sales Nov 2013 as a foal and started career over hurdles. May have had a day out point to pointing as a family treat at some time?????
I love the way More Of That stretches his neck and really sticks his head out when finishing off his race - it might just be an optical illusion, but it made me think "this bugger really wants to win this". Annie Power could be a mare to make history - I would aim her at the Champion Hurdle next season and then go chasing, surely she can emulate Dawn Run? She still has the turn of foot to win a Champion Hurdle, after that send her chasing as she clearly has stamina as well. I'm all for the newer races at the festival - World Hurdle, Ryanair Chase et al are wonderful races, whereas the oldest race at the festival, the fecking 4 miler, is ****e, as is the "steeped in tradaition" Byrne Group Plate (formerly the Mildmay Of Flete). The County Hurdle is hardly a ****ing belter either, despite it being around since 1920 . In fact, many of the oldest races at the festival are the fecking handicaps which are bookies benefits and often a shambles. Give me the quality of a Ryanair or World Hurdle any day of the week.
Blimey Oddy!..No h'caps then..27 conditions events?..Rooster Booster won the County Hurdle before winning the Champion quite recently. The Byrne Group is identical to the Mackeson and Massey Ferguson GC's..the former generally heralds the onset of the NH season proper and both races are rightly revered...the County is like the Irish Sweeps Hurdle,The Schweppes etc..cracking events one and all. The Ryanair is almost as insignificant as the plodders hurdle!
There's a place for all of them Dex. A 4 day festival is about right I think, would hate to see it diluted to 5 BUT many of the races added for the 4 day festival are very good ones The Ryanair has been one of the most exciting races at the festival over the last few years and has produced some tremendous finishes. There is a huge gap between the 2 miles of the Champion Chase and the 3m2f of the Gold Cup and the Ryanair has filled that gap admirably. There really ought to be a 2m4f Grade 1 hurdle at the festival, I'd gladly sacrifice the cross country.
...TIMBER!!... Oddy makes a very valid point re the mid distance hurdle,but others on the marketing side of racing would have a 2m2f and 2m6f G1 'chase and hurdle..for novices and above. Every day can't be Christmas Day...the lustre wears..
