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Ladbrokes World Hurdle
Race Conditions
The Ladbrokes World Hurdle (3:20pm) is a Class A Grade 1 hurdle run over three miles. It is open to horses aged four years old and upwards. The total prize fund is £260,000.
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Recent Winners
By staging both the Ryanair Chase and the World Hurdle on the Thursday of the Festival, organisers have ensured that day three lacks nothing in prestige, despite not staging one of the three blue riband events.
In fact, the World Hurdle has taken on increased significance in its own right in recent years, thanks mainly to the exploits of the great French champion, Baracouda, who won the race twice and then finished second twice, and subsequently three-time winner Inglis Drever. They have set the standard by which all great staying hurdlers will be measured.
The recent resurgence that the race is enjoying is, perhaps, no coincidence. The trend towards better ground at the Festival has meant that the event has become less of a slog and has enabled the classier horses to dominate. Not since Anzum, in 1999, have we seen a double figure price winner of the race.
| Year | Horse | Age | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Big Buck's | 6 | P F Nicholls | 6/1 |
| 2008 | Inglis Drever | 9 | J Howard Johnson | 11/8F |
| 2007 | Inglis Drever | 8 | J Howard Johnson | 5/1 |
| 2006 | My Way De Solzen | 6 | A King | 8/1 |
| 2005 | Inglis Drever | 6 | J Howard Johnson | 5/1 |
| 2004 | Iris’s Gift | 7 | Jonjo O’Neill | 9/2 |
| 2003 | Baracouda | 8 | F Doumen | 9/4JF |
| 2002 | Baracouda | 7 | F Doumen | 13/8F |
| 2000 | Bacchanal | 6 | N Henderson | 11/2 |
| 1999 | Anzum | 8 | D Nicholson | 40/1 |
| 1998 | Princeful | 7 | J Pitman | 16/1 |
| 1997 | Karshi | 7 | Miss H Knight | 20/1 |
| 1996 | Cyborgo | 6 | M Pipe | 8/1 |
| 1995 | Dorans Pride | 6 | M Hourigan | 11/4F |
| 1994 | Balasani | 8 | M Pipe | 9/2JF |
| 1993 | Shuil Ar Aghaidh | 7 | P Kiely | 20/1 |
| 1992 | Nomadic Way | 7 | B Hills | 15/2 |
| 1991 | King’s Curate | 7 | S Mellor | 5/2JF |
| 1990 | Trapper John | 6 | M Morris | 15/2 |
| 1989 | Rustle | 7 | N Henderson | 4/1 |
(prior winners detailed at bottom of page)
Key Trends
No 5 year-old has ever won, although plenty have been placed.
Only one winner older than 9 (Crimson Embers in 1986).
No Irish trained winner for 15 years.
French-breds have won 4 of the last 8 runnings (including 4 of the first 5 placings last year).
The last 22 winners finished in the first 4 last time out and 13 of the 15 winners finished in the first 2 last time out.
No shock results of late. 8/1 the highest SP in last nine years (the first 5 in the betting have filled the last 18 win-and-place positions).
2010 World Hurdle Preview
Of all of the supposed good things at this year’s Festival, Big Bucks looks the most bullet proof. He is unbeaten since switching back to hurdles last January and has comprehensively beaten all of the top stayers since then. It is hard to find any chinks in his armour and whilst he often hits a flat spot in his races, it is his power at the finish that is so impressive. He also seems to cope with all types of ground.
There appear to be only handful of credible alternatives.
Karabak ran well enough behind Big Bucks at Newbury last time out, proving that he stays this trip. Indeed, he is likely to show his best form over it when he encounters better ground than he did that day. He proved his quality last season by staying on well to take second behind the brilliant Mikeal D’Haguenet in an excellent renewal of the Ballymore Properties Hurdle.
Tidal Bay is following the path trodden by Big Bucks by returning to hurdles after a (relatively) disappointing time over fences. Like Big Bucks, Tidal Bay had his moments over fences, not least when winning the Arkle in 2008, but he has struggled at times to fulfil that promise and seemed rejuvenated by a switch to the smaller obstacles in the Cleeve Hurdle at this track in January (Time For Rupert was second and Katchit third).
He runs well at Cheltenham in general, and at the Festival in particular, and has always been supremely talented.
Of course, War Of Attrition achieved far more than either Big Bucks or Tidal Bay over fences – winning the Gold Cup in 2006. One thing he does have in common with those two, however, is that he is enjoying a spell back hurdling now he has reached his veteran stage.
He’s another with a fantastic Festival record (he was a narrow second to Brave Inca in the 2004 Supreme Novices Hurdle), likes decent ground and has shown on recent starts that he is still up for a fight.
On his last start at Navan, he beat Mourad, who was third in last season’s Triumph Hurdle. That was Mourad’s first try over a trip in excess of 2½ miles and this further step up in distance should suit him. He was probably ridden too conservatively that day in Ireland and can reverse that form here.
Of the others, Cousin Vinny could also be interesting back over hurdles after an abortive try over fences, Sentry Duty may struggle to stay this trip in a truly run contest and the previously progressive Lie Forrit has to overcome a horror show in the Cleeve last time out.
CONCLUSION: Big Bucks looks a good thing but, like the other “Festival bankers” represents poor value for the everyday punter.
A double with stablemate Master Minded in the Queen Mother looks a decent bet, but the each way value in this contest probably lies with MOURAD, who is marginally preferred to Tidal Bay as the best alternative to the favourite.
Karabak should also be there or thereabouts and it would be marvellous to see the Festival veteran War Of Attrition go out in style with a bold show.
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Race Facts
1. The Ladbrokes World Hurdle is one of the youngest races at The Festival. Known as the Stayers’ Hurdle up to and including 2004, it was only introduced with its current race conditions in 1972. Before that, it was known as the Spa Hurdle.
2. The Ladbrokes World Hurdle has been run on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the meeting. It moved to its current Thursday slot in 1993.
3. Its first year of sponsorship was 1972, under the title of the Lloyds Bank Hurdle. There have been four sponsors of the race, Waterford Crystal from 1978 to 1990 and Bonusprint from 1991 to 2004. 2005 was the first year of Ladbrokes’ sponsorship and prize money currently stands at £260,000.
4. The Ladbrokes World Hurdle used to be a favourite with the Irish, who have won it nine times, most recently in 1995 with Dorans Pride. Baracouda provided a first success for France in 2002 and followed up again in 2003. In 2004 and 2005, he was runner-up behind Iris’s Gift and Inglis Drever respectively, while in 2006 he ran fifth behind My Way De Solzen. Baracouda’s trainer Francois Doumen also saddled Kasbah Bliss to finish second in 2008 and fourth last year when starting the hot 10/11 favourite.
5. In 2008, Inglis Drever created history by becoming the first horse to win the contest three times. He was successful in 2005, missed the 2006 race due to injury before returning to land both the 2007 and 2008 renewals. There have been three dual winners - Crimson Embers (1982 & 1986), Galmoy (1987 & 1988) and Baracouda (2002 & 2003).
6. Howard Johnson (trainer of Inglis Drever) and the late Fulke Walwyn - with three wins apiece - are the only trainers to have won the contest more than twice. The race was dominated in the mid-1980s by Crimson Embers, trained by Walwyn, and the winner in 1982 and 1986. Indeed, Crimson Embers would have been awarded the race in the stewards’ room in 1985 had his rider not declined to give evidence to the enquiry afterwards, but the trainer won the race anyway with Rose Ravine. The owner, Sally Smart, was ambivalent about the result - she owned both horses!
7. Gaye Chance, the winner in 1984, was a full-brother to the 1983 Champion Hurdle winner Gaye Brief. Both horses were trained by Mercy Rimell.
8. No horse has managed to win both the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle and the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.
9. A total of 11 favourites have been successful.
10. The smallest field to go to post was eight in 1973 while the largest was 22 in both 1985 and 1990. 14 ran last year and current safety limit is 24.
11. Tommy Carberry, Stuart Shilston, Tommy Carmody, Mark Perrett, Charlie Swan, Jamie Osborne and Thierry Doumen are the most successful jockeys, each recording two victories. No current jockey has won the race more than once. The three-time winner Inglis Drever was partnered by different jockeys for each of his victories – Graham Lee (2005), Paddy Brennan (2007) and Denis O’Regan (2008).
2009 World Hurdle Review
This division has undergone a remarkable revival in recent seasons as, in the likes of Baracouda, Inglis Drever and Iris Gift, we’ve been able to enjoy some of the greatest staying hurdles in living memory.
And now there may be a new name to add to that impressive list as BIG BUCK’S appears to have all of the weapons necessary to dominate this race for the next few years.
It is amazing to think that he started the season unseating Sam Thomas at the last when a well backed favourite for the Hennessy. At that time, the Gold Cup looked to be his most likely Cheltenham target, but since being switched to hurdles he has been a revelation and it is hard to see any reason why connections would put him back over fences.
Like many of the best stayers, he tends to hit a flat spot in his races and turning for home Ruby Walsh was pushing and shoving along. However, once he hit the front, halfway up the run in, he surged clear of Punchestowns to record an impressive success.
Had he not fluffed the last, the victory margin would surely have been greater and given that he is only six this was some performance.
The runner up is also a top three miler, but with Big Buck’s set to stay over hurdles, Punchestowns will surely switch to fences next season as, well though he ran in defeat, there seems no obvious reason why he should be able to turn the tables on the winner next year, having also been decisively beaten by him in the Cleeve Hurdle here in January.
That said, if Big Buck’s hadn’t been in the field, he would have run out a wide margin winner and he remains a very exciting prospect indeed.
There was a mile back to the third Powerstation, which simply underlined the quality of the front two.
Powerstation has run well at the Festival before and clearly relishes the stiff uphill finish as he has endless stamina. However, he lacks the gears of the very best stayers and this is as good as he is.
Amazingly, Kasbah Bliss was backed into odds on favouritism, on the back of his second to Inglis Drever in this contest last year and his outstanding form in stayers races on the Flat over the summer. However, having closed stylishly on the leaders three out, he emptied quickly and appeared a non stayer.
Mighty Man ran a huge race in fifth given that he has been off the course since breaking down at the Punchestown Festival in 2007. Connections will now be praying they can keep him sound as he clearly retains plenty of his old ability and he is likely to take the winner on again at his beloved Aintree next time out.
Whatuthink belied his odds of 100-1 to finish a creditable sixth, albeit a long way behind the winner. The first time blinkers obviously suited him.
2009 World Hurdle Result
| Place | Horse | Trainer | Age | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Buck's | P F Nicholls | 6 | R Walsh | 6/1 |
| 2 | Punchestowns | N J Henderson | 6 | B J Geraghty | 100/30 |
| 3 | Powerstation | Eamon O'Connell | 9 | Andrew J McNamara | 25/1 |
| 4 | Kasbah Bliss | F Doumen | 7 | C Pieux | 10/11F |
| 5 | Mighty Man | H D Daly | 9 | Sam Thomas | 28/1 |
| 6 | Whatuthink | Oliver McKiernan | 7 | D N Russell | 100/1 |
| 7 | Mobaasher | P F Nicholls | 6 | Christian Williams | 33/1 |
| 8 | Blazing Bailey | A King | 7 | Robert Thornton | 28/1 |
| 9 | Fair Along | P J Hobbs | 7 | Richard Johnson | 14/1 |
| 10 | No Refuge | J Howard Johnson | 9 | Denis O'Regan | 100/1 |
| 11 | Pettifour | N A Twiston-Davies | 7 | P J Brennan | 66/1 |
| 12 | Tazbar | K G Reveley | 7 | James Reveley | 33/1 |
| 13 | Shakervilz | W P Mullins | 6 | P Townend | 50/1 |
| 14 | Afsoun | N J Henderson | 7 | Dominic Elsworth | 100/1 |
Big Buck's and Ruby Walsh winning the 2009 World Hurdle
2008 World Hurdle Review
Not a dry eye in the house as the brilliant INGLIS DREVER secured his place in the history books with his third straight win, confirming himself in the process as one of the all time greats in the staying division.
And once again this warrior of a horse did it the hard way as, in traditional Inglis Drever style, he was under pressure, and apparently struggling, as the field began the run downhill for the final time. However, those who had witnessed his previous successes in this race knew there was no need to panic and by the time the leaders turned for home he was traveling as well as anything.
He jumped the last only fractionally behind the eventual runner up Kasbah Bliss, who ironically is trained by Francois Doumen who also trained Baracouda, the horse whose record Inglis Drever was bidding to beat here.
The two locked horns all the way to the line, but once Inglis Drever had got his head in front on the run in the result was never in doubt.
Kasbah Bliss ran a cracker to finish second, well clear of the rest. He is sure to be back for another shot at this race next year and, as a six year old, he clearly has time on his side.
Kazal probably put up his best effort yet in finishing third. He was simply outstayed by front two after the last, but was traveling as well as anything approaching the penultimate flight.
Blazing Bailey, in fourth, could never quite get into the race, although he was staying on better than anything at the death. He was placed in the race last year, but just seems to lack the pace needed to win this championship event.
My Way De Solzen seems to have appreciated the switch back to hurdles, but despite a decent enough effort here it is hard not to feel that he is a shadow of the horse that was so exciting when winning last year’s Arkle.
The effort of Chief Dan George (seventh) hinted at a possible return to form, whilst Wichita Lineman (ninth) is another who appears to lack the natural speed necessary to compete with the best, even over this marathon trip. The performances of both this season have provided further evidence that horses who run well in the Albert Bartlett don’t often train on over hurdles.
Former Champion Hurdler, Hardy Eustace, was prominent for much of the race but appeared not to stay and was eased when beaten.
2008 World Hurdle Result
| Place | Horse | Trainer | Age | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inglis Drever | J Howard Johnson | 9 | Denis O´Regan | 11/8F |
| 2 | Kasbah Bliss | F Doumen | 6 | C Pieux | 9/1 |
| 3 | Kazal | Eoin Griffin | 7 | B J Geraghty | 12/1 |
| 4 | Blazing Bailey | A King | 6 | R Walsh | 13/2 |
| 5 | My Way De Solzen | A King | 8 | Robert Thornton | 15/2 |
| 6 | Aitmatov | Noel Meade | 7 | P Carberry | 33/1 |
| 7 | Chief Dan George | James Moffatt | 8 | Brian Hughes | 100/1 |
| 8 | Flight Leader | C L Tizzard | 8 | Joe Tizzard | 100/1 |
| 9 | Wichita Lineman | Jonjo O´Neill | 7 | A P McCoy | 14/1 |
| 10 | Material World | Miss Suzy Smith | 10 | Colin Bolger | 100/1 |
| 11 | Sonnyanjoe | T Hogan | 10 | Noel Fehily | 50/1 |
| 12 | Hardy Eustace | D T Hughes | 11 | C O´Dwyer | 16/1 |
| 13 | Lough Derg | D E Pipe | 8 | Tom Scudamore | 20/1 |
| 14 | Ebaziyan | W P Mullins | 7 | D J Condon | 66/1 |
| 15 | Redemption | N A Twiston-Davies | 13 | David England | 250/1 |
| PU | Special Envoy | P Bowen | 6 | P J Brennan | 50/1 |
| PU | The Market Man | N J Henderson | 8 | Mick Fitzgerald | 16/1 |
2007 World Hurdle Review
An emotional victory and one to warn the hearts of all true national hunt enthusiasts as the 2005 champion INGLIS DREVER recaptured his crown in typically game fashion after missing all of last season through injury.
As is his custom, the winner needed to be niggled along by his rider, Paddy Brennan, from a long way out and he was actually under maximum pressure at the top of the hill, but he found some momentum on the downhill stretch of the course and picked up turning for home before staying on gamely to hold off Mighty Man and Blazing Bailey. Although there was less than a length in it at the line Inglis Drever was idling in front and he looked like he’d find more if needed.
His win here was achieved in similar style to that in 2005 when he defeated the great Baracouda. On this evidence, he may in time be recognised as being as good as that great French raider.
Mighty Man was third last year and second here. He would have been an impressive winner if you took Inglis Drever out of the race and is a top class stayer in his own right. He loves decent ground and is even better on a flat track like Aintree, where compensation may await.
Blazing Bailey ran another good race to confirm himself the best young stayer around. A five year old has never won this event, so he ran very respectably given that statistic. He is very tough and genuine, but may prefer slightly easier going.
The same is true of the mare United who just lacked the speed to be competitive on this ground, in this company. However, this was her best effort yet and there are plenty more big races to be won with her.
The big disappointment of the race was undoubtedly the early fall of the hot favourite, Black Jack Ketchum. He took a horrible fall at the third, and the huge crowd held its breath waiting to see if he would get up okay. Thankfully he did, and he seemed none the worse for the incident as he galloped loose. He was on a retrieval mission here after his flop in the Cleeve Hurdle and we’ll now have to wait for Aintree to see if he really is as good as we all thought this time last year.
2006 World Hurdle Review
The feature race of day three, the Ladbroke World Hurdle, was won in thrilling fashion by MY WAY DE SOLZEN.
A huge field had gone to post in search of the £131,000 first prize, but at the business end of the race there were only really five horses in contention.
My Way De Solzen has improved immensely this year for the step up in trip, but he was expected to need softer ground to be able to live with the very best over this distance. Instead, he put up the performance of his life on going which was being dried out all the time by a chilling wind.
He was travelling better than anything turning for home and powered clear of his main rivals approaching the last. However, either through tiredness or lack of company upfront, he idled on the run-in, drifted right and was nearly headed by Golden Cross.
Indeed, he had wandered off course to such an extent that many felt a stewards’ inquiry should have been called to see if he had unfairly interfered with the runner up. Given that the margin of victory at the line was only a nose, it is hard not to have sympathy with connections of Golden Cross, who was clearly not helped by the winner’s manoeuvre. He also met trouble in running before two out, having been held up well off the pace by his Derby winning jockey, Johnny Murtagh.
All the winner does is stay and given his tender years there could be more to come, especially on his preferred soft ground. By contrast, the second is equally effective over shorter distances and his trainer even admitted after the race that a crack at the Champion Hurdle may be an option if ever the ground were to come up soft.
Back in third was Mighty Man, who was sent off the 4-1 favourite. His season, up until now, had been blighted by bad luck, but there were no excuses here. Unlike the winner, he was unable to quicken off the final bend. However, he too is only a six year old and so can continue to improve.
Fire Dragon ran a blinder in fourth. He was the youngest horse in the field and has improved over two stone this season. He has a very bright future but appeared to run out of gas here having travelled like the winner for a long way.
It was certainly encouraging to see so many exciting young horses fight out the finish to this prestigious event, but they’ll all have to go some to get close to matching the achievements of one of the sport’s all time great performers, who may well have run his last race after finishing a very creditable fifth here.
Baracouda is nothing short of a Festival legend and, incredibly, this was only the second time in 27 starts over hurdles that he has finished out of the first two (the first was on his debut in 2000). In that time, he has won over £750,000 in win and place prize money, and won this race, and been second in it, twice.
His jumping was as immaculate as usual and as in previous years he was still cruising on the bridle coming down the hill. However, he seems to have lost the finishing kick that has killed off so many opponents in the past and was unable to match the winner’s turn of foot up the home straight. Retirement beckons, but he has done the sport and his connections proud and it looks like he has handed the baton on to an exciting new bunch of stayers.
Of the rest, Emotional Moment seemed to find conditions much too quick for his liking, whilst Patriarch Express seemed to fail to stay the trip on this stiff course.
Roll of Honour (1972-1988)
(recent winners detailed towards top of page)
Year Winner Age/Wt Jockey Trainer SP
1988 Galmoy 9-11-10 Tommy Carmody John Mulhern IRE 2/1F
1987 Galmoy 8-11-10 Tommy Carmody John Mulhern IRE 9/2
1986 Crimson Embers 11-11-10 Stuart Shilston Fulke Walwyn 12/1
1985 Rose Ravine 6-11-05 Ricky Pusey Fulke Walwyn 5/1F
1984 Gaye Chance 9-11-10 Sam Morshead Mercy Rimell 5/1
1983 A Kinsman 7-11-12 Geordie Dun John Brockbank 50/1
1982 Crimson Embers 7-11-12 Stuart Shilston Fulke Walwyn 2/1F
1981 Derring Rose 6-11-12 John Francome Fred Winter 3/1
1980 Mountrivers 6-11-12 Tommy Ryan Edward O’Grady IRE 7/1
1979 Lighter 6-11-12 Philip Blacker John Edwards 14/1
1978 Flame Gun 6-11-12 Mr Niall Madden Edward O’Grady IRE 14/1
1977 Town Ship 6-11-12 Tommy Carberry Peter Easterby 5/2
1976 Bit Of A Jig 8-11-12 Dessie Hughes Mick O’Toole IRE 2/1F
1975 Brown Lad 9-11-12 Tommy Carberry Jim Dreaper IRE 7/4F
1974 Highland Abbe 8-11-12 Richard Smith Les Kennard 15/2
1973 Moyne Royal 8-11-12 David Mould Arthur Pitt 10/1
1972 Parlour Moor 8-11-12 Macer Gifford Tom Jones 13/2