The 2016 World Hurdle
The World Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles (4,828 metres), and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March. It is the leading long-distance hurdle event in the National Hunt calendar, and it is the feature race on the third day of the Festival.
The inaugural race was run in 1912 at Prestbury Park over 3 miles with £100 (£200 in 1913) prize money to the winner and £10 to the runner-up. It was called "Stayers Selling Hurdle" and was a Weight for Age Selling type of event with the winning horse being sold for £50 after the race. The race was dropped from the festival programme twice during 1928-1929 and in 1939-1945 but in 1946 it replaced the Spa Hurdle which was previously ran in 1923 and 1942 over 2 miles. From 1946 to 1967 the Spa Hurdle was ran over the same 3 miles until being renamed in 1972 as the Stayers' Hurdle when it was sponsored by Lloyds Bank. It was backed by Waterford Crystal from 1978 to 1990, and by Bonusprint from 1991 to 2004. The race used to be held on either the Tuesday or the Wednesday of the Festival, but it was moved to the Thursday in 1993.
The modern title of the race was changed to the World Hurdle when Ladbrokes took over the sponsorship in 2005. Recent years have been dominated by multiple winners such as Inglis Drever, Barracouda and the irrepressible Big Buck’s, who made the race his own from 2009 – 2012.
This year’s betting is currently headed by Thistlecrack, Colin Tizzard’s Kayf Tara gelding showing that his Grade 1 novice hurdle victory in Aintree’s Sefton was no fluke by taking Newbury’s Long Distance Hurdle, and the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot, in imperious fashion.
Current betting as of Jan 21st (Bet 365):
Thistlecrack 9/4
Annie Power 5/1
Cole Harden 7/1
Vroum Vroum Mag 8/1
Camping Ground 9/1
Nicholls Canyon, Auxs Ptit Soins 10/1
Alpha Des Obeaux 12/1
14/1 Bar
Willie Mullins’ mares Annie Power and Vroum Vroum Mag may have alternative targets (VVM runs at Ascot on 23rd Jan over an extended 2m7f, a convincing victory may see her World Hurdle bound). Reigning champ Cole Harden has looked jaded in 2 runs on heavy ground but will be much more at home on spring ground. Camping Ground steps up in trip for the first time in the Cleeve Hurdle where he will meet Thistlecrack, the winner of that race will surely be a very warm order for the World Hurdle. Ireland’s leading challenger away from Closutton will likely be the winner of the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park in a few minutes time.
The 2016 Cheltenham Festival Megathread
The World Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles (4,828 metres), and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March. It is the leading long-distance hurdle event in the National Hunt calendar, and it is the feature race on the third day of the Festival.
The inaugural race was run in 1912 at Prestbury Park over 3 miles with £100 (£200 in 1913) prize money to the winner and £10 to the runner-up. It was called "Stayers Selling Hurdle" and was a Weight for Age Selling type of event with the winning horse being sold for £50 after the race. The race was dropped from the festival programme twice during 1928-1929 and in 1939-1945 but in 1946 it replaced the Spa Hurdle which was previously ran in 1923 and 1942 over 2 miles. From 1946 to 1967 the Spa Hurdle was ran over the same 3 miles until being renamed in 1972 as the Stayers' Hurdle when it was sponsored by Lloyds Bank. It was backed by Waterford Crystal from 1978 to 1990, and by Bonusprint from 1991 to 2004. The race used to be held on either the Tuesday or the Wednesday of the Festival, but it was moved to the Thursday in 1993.
The modern title of the race was changed to the World Hurdle when Ladbrokes took over the sponsorship in 2005. Recent years have been dominated by multiple winners such as Inglis Drever, Barracouda and the irrepressible Big Buck’s, who made the race his own from 2009 – 2012.
This year’s betting is currently headed by Thistlecrack, Colin Tizzard’s Kayf Tara gelding showing that his Grade 1 novice hurdle victory in Aintree’s Sefton was no fluke by taking Newbury’s Long Distance Hurdle, and the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot, in imperious fashion.
Current betting as of Jan 21st (Bet 365):
Thistlecrack 9/4
Annie Power 5/1
Cole Harden 7/1
Vroum Vroum Mag 8/1
Camping Ground 9/1
Nicholls Canyon, Auxs Ptit Soins 10/1
Alpha Des Obeaux 12/1
14/1 Bar
Willie Mullins’ mares Annie Power and Vroum Vroum Mag may have alternative targets (VVM runs at Ascot on 23rd Jan over an extended 2m7f, a convincing victory may see her World Hurdle bound). Reigning champ Cole Harden has looked jaded in 2 runs on heavy ground but will be much more at home on spring ground. Camping Ground steps up in trip for the first time in the Cleeve Hurdle where he will meet Thistlecrack, the winner of that race will surely be a very warm order for the World Hurdle. Ireland’s leading challenger away from Closutton will likely be the winner of the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park in a few minutes time.
The 2016 Cheltenham Festival Megathread
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