Sorry for the cheesy headline MORE OF THAT is very unlikely to defend his crown in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival next month after breaking a blood vessel following a piece of work on Wednesday. Trained by Jonjo O'Neill for owner JP McManus, More Of That ended the unbeaten run of Annue Power when scoring at Cheltenham last season but lost his own unbeaten record when finishing only third in the bet365 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury in November. The seven-year-old has been off the track since running at Newbury but was being prepared for a defence of his title at the festival having undergone a wind operation since his last run. O'Neill said: "As part of his build up to Cheltenham, More Of That galloped at Compton this morning with AP [McCoy] in the saddle and pleased everyone with his work. "But when he returned to the yard he was found to have bled and as things stand I would have to say that he is now an unlikely runner at Cheltenham as time is not on our side." More Of That was the 7-2 favourite for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle with the Paul Nicholls-trained pair Saphir Du Rheu and Zarkandar next in the betting.
So what happens to the market - that will be a few coupon busters already!! And it blows open the already open World Hurdle surely Saphir Du Rheu is favourite or will Willie Send Annie power back over 3m surely not straight away if she goes to the festival with out a run she will win the mares with out one but the world hurdle, could ruin her!
Fanny Power will contest the girls race I reckon. They want a festival win and they should get one. I maybe in a minority but I'm not wavering from Rock On Ruby even with Fanny and More of That in the field. Consistently underrated, saves best for the Cheltenham Hill, Fehily on board, probable good ground. Celestial Halo made the step up a few years back, made a mistake at the last and only found Solwhit too good. ROR is half a stone better than CH.
Rock on Ruby will win, got 10s on Sunday, and even happier with that now. Will go off close to favourite in my opinion
Annie Power being backed in for the world hurdle , I hope Willie just sticks with the mares hurdle this year then if need be go to the world hurdle next year! She can't win it going in to it without a run
More if That out kicks into touch a few preseason accas I done Ah well! I'd agree fully Wooly. No chance Annie going World Hurdle off the back of an injury striken season. She might get away with not being race fit for the Mares but not in a World Hurdle. We've seen Sprinter Sacre and Sire de Grugy defeated this season first time back, and they also had 'pounds in hand'..
