Ladbrokes World Hurdle Preview and tips

There is so much riding on the prevailing conditions at next week's Cheltenham Festival, probably none more so that long-term Ladbrokes World Hurdle favourite Black Jack Ketchum, who might even be pulled out of the prestigious stayers' event if the ground doesn't dry out appreciably between now and Thursday afternoon. If this were to happen, it'll be a complete disaster for many a ante-post punter. Indeed, many a good judge were getting on for this race before he had crossed the line in first place in the inaugural running of the Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle at last year's Festival, so he carries the hopes of many, who had made him their banker of the meeting. But the eight-year-old, who is generally a 9/4 chance but has drifted out to odds as big as 11-2 on Betfair, will not run if the going is testing. Having beaten Blazing Bailey in a hat canter in the 'Relkeel' Hurdle here in December, Jonjo O'Neill's charge ran no sort of a race back at Prestbury Park in the Cleeve Hurdle, in which he was beaten 35 lengths behind Blazing Bailey. The feeling of his jockey, champion Tony McCoy, is that while he handles soft going, he is a far more effective horse on a genuine good surface and that he would rather wait for the likely better ground he will encounter at Aintree's Grand National meeting and then at the Punchestown Festival. As such, we're all taking a shot in the dark at present. But whether he runs or not, I am more than happy to oppose the jolly. He is a hugely talented horse and much the best in the race in terms of raw ability, but that last-time-out display was so poor - even allowing for the fact that he wasn't suited by the heavy going - that I cannot take such a short price about him in this event, given the doubts surrounding him. Although she has a fair bit to find on a literal interpretation of her form, the Emma Lavelle-trained mare Labelthou rates a fair bet at 12/1 with VCbet in receipt of 7lb from the geldings. As long as the ground does not dry out too much in the days leading up to this three-mile championship race, there will be few better equipped than this eight-year-old for the task in hand. Labelthou relishes plenty of give underfoot. She relishes a stamina test. Indeed, when it comes to punching pound for pound with the boy if it's a slog, she will be up to the task. This rapidly improving novice posted arguably a career-best when running her rivals into the ground in the Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock last time, beating Afrad by eight lengths. The only blot on her copybook was when she was beaten by Flight Leader at this track, but it's worth remembering that she was making her third appearance within the space three weeks on that occasion, so there's reason to believe she might not have been at her best that day. A line through that winner does give her a bit to find with Blazing Bailey, if indeed the form is a true indicator. Blazing Bailey gained a deserved success in the Cleeve Hurdle and is clearly on the upgrade. With Black Jack Ketchum running so badly it's probably unwise to get too carried away, but Alan King's charge is as game and tough as they come, and he'll be bang there at the finish, of that you can be sure. I cannot entertain Inglis Drever at current odds of around the 3/1 mark. The Howard Johnson stable has been hit and miss all season and while he showed some of his old spark on his reappearance, he was comprehensively outpointed by Blazing Bailey last time and I cannot see any reason why he should reverse the placings. He doesn't appear to retain the same level of ability which saw him win this in 2005. The ground will be too testing for the admirable Mighty Man in my opinion, but it won't hold any terrors for French raider Kasbah Bliss, who has a great each-way chance, along with the Nicky Henderson-trained Temoin, who will be in his element if the ground stays on the slow side and with a sound pace guaranteed. Temoin is tempting at a best-priced 16/1, as I feel that there is more to come from him, but Labelthou is such a consistent performer and, with solid grounds on which to oppose the front two in the betting, she looks the best value alternative. She might just lead them a merry dance and nick it from the front. Verdict: 1pt e/w Labelthou @ 12/1 (VCbet)