Ladbrokes World Hurdle

Now that the Cheltenham Festival has been extended to four days The Stayers' Hurdle, or the Ladbrokes World Hurdle as it is now known, can at long last emerge from the shadow of the Gold Cup. No longer will the two races be run on the same day and this three-mile Grade 1 hurdle will now rightly be the feature race on the Thursday of the Festival.It is probably asking too much to be treated to a repeat of last year's pulsating finish when Iris's Gift and Baracouda - both horses showing their peak form - battled up the Cheltenham hill in an epic dual. Only in the final 100 yards did Iris's Gift edge ahead to win by a length and a half. Baracouda lost nothing in defeat and with his conqueror absent this year he will be a red-hot 'banker' to regain his crown.Baracouda has started favourite for the World (Stayers') Hurdle for the last three years. He was successful in 2002 (13-8f) and 2003 (9-4f), however in five previous renewals market leaders had a dismal record. Remember Anzum (40-1) in 1999, Princeful (16-1) in 1998 and Karshi (20-1) in 1997. The Irish haven't got much to cheer about either, their last winner being Dorans Pride in 1995.Bet on the Ladbrokes World Hurdle with LadbrokesVCBet (free fifty pound bet)Stan James (free twenty five pound bet)Blue Square (free twenty five pound bet) BARACOUDA10yo Trained by Francois DoumenForm: 2-11Looks sure to start the hottest favourite of the 2005 Festival. Despite two wins from two runs this season we certainly haven't seen Francois Doumen's ten year-old at his best - yet. His victory at Newbury by three quarters of a length from Crysal D'Ainay lacked sparkle but at least it provided a good opportunity for Tony McCoy to become acquainted with this complicated beast. He is a brilliant jumper with power-packed acceleration but he can idle at the finish and certainly takes some knowing. Baracouda's most recent win was in a falsely run, stop-start, Long Walk Hurdle at Windsor in December when again he had three quarters of a length to spare over Crystal D'Ainay with the fast finishing Rule Supreme a short-head back in third. Despite an absence from the track of three months you can be sure that Baracouda will be spot-on to win his third stayers' crown. He might be approaching the veteran stag, but his connections believe his talents are undiminished and defeat for Baracouda would - Best Mate included - be the shock of the Festival.CORRIB ECLIPSE.6yo trained by Jamie PoultonForm: 270-Surprise 25-1 winner of the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2004 but with no hurdles experience his chances are hardly glowing. Lightning seldom strikes twice.CRYSTAL D'AINAY 6yo trained by Alan KingForm: 2241Finished 13 lengths behind Baracouda in the 2004 Stayers' Hurdle having run the race of his life. Although it is difficult to see him turning the tables, at least Alan King's six year-old has struck form in the nick of time. Having run a lifeless race in the Cleeve Hurdle where he could only manage fourth place to Patriarch Express, Korelo and Westender it required something special from Crystal D'Ainay in the Rendlesham Hurdle at Kempton to get his Cheltenham plans back on track. He redeemed his reputation in style to comfortably beat Monet's Garden and Royal Rosa.His jockey Robert Thornton believes that the application of a visor helped Crystal D'Ainey jump and travel better. However, it still needs an act of considerable faith to see him reversing either Cheltenham, Newbury or Windsor form with Baracouda.EMOTIONAL MOMENT.8yo trained by Tom TaaffeForm: 3111Tom Taaffe's eight year-old has won ten races over hurdles - most recently as an odds-on favourite at Navan beating Yogi by nine lengths. His last three victories have been when making the running, which would make him distinctly vulnerable to staying's 'big three' - Baracouda, Crystal D'Ainay and Rule Supreme. Despite impressive form figures looks likely cannon fodder.INGLIS DREVER6yo trained by Howard JohnsonForm: 2211Howard Johnson's hurdler also holds an engagement for the Champion Hurdle but his style of running strongly suggests that the extra mile of the World Hurdle will play to his strengths. He needed plenty of cajoling from McCoy to win the two-mile Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton and a month earlier the style of his Haydock victory (also two miles) over Mr McGoldrick suggested that three miles at Cheltenham may prove ideal - after all he ran a cracker behind Fundamentalist in the 2004 Sun Alliance Novices Hurdle (2m 5f). He could prove Baracouda's biggest danger.Bet on the Ladbrokes World Hurdle with LadbrokesVCBet (free fifty pound bet)Stan James (free twenty five pound bet)Blue Square (free twenty five pound bet)IT TAKES TIME11yo trained by Martin PipeForm: 5431Beaten 13 lengths by Baracouda in the 2003 Stayers' Hurdle. Like Rule Supreme his most recent run was over fences in the Totesport Chase at Lingfield when, a 14-1 shot, he gamely beat Ollie Magern. His hurdles form is respectable but he has plenty to find with Baracouda, Crystal D'Ainay and Rule Supreme on Long Walk Hurdle form. Crimson Embers is the only other 11 year-old winner so old age a big problem.KORELO7yo trained by Martin PipeForm: -612Has shown his liking for Cheltenham by winning the Totesport Handicap Hurdle in January and finishing a head second to Patriarch Express in the Cleeve Hurdle later in the month (finishing ahead of Westender and a below-par Crystal D'Ainay.) He is still improving and probably represents Martin Pipe's best chance of winning the race since Cyborgo in 1996 but he needs to step up a couple of gears to threaten Baracouda.LOUGH DERG5yo trained by Martin PipeForm: 5146Winner of the 2 mile 5 furlong Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham in December but plenty to find with Crystal D'Ainay (below-par) on Cleeve Hurdle form. Stable companions Korelo and Westender are preferred and possesses only a microscopic chance of place money at best - added to which five year-olds have a catastrophic record in Grade One Hurdles.POLE STAR7yo trained by James FanshaweForm: 2112He takes a giant step outside novice company but he was a classy horse on the flat and was an impressive winner of a 2m 3f novices' hurdle at Newbury in January. He finished a respectable 6 lengths second to the useful novice Marcel in November at Newbury but taking on Baracouda and co in a Grade One three miler is a mammoth task. Trainer is no mug and wouldn't run him if he was a complete no-hoper.RULE SUPREME9yo trained by Willie MullinsForm: 33F1Trainer Willie Mullins faces the anguish of deciding whether Rule Supreme runs in the Gold Cup or the World Hurdle. Judged by the manner he slammed Beef or Salmon by 14 lengths in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown, the Gold Cup looks the logical route. At the same time a fast finishing third to Baracouda and Crystal d'Ainay in Windsor's Long Walk Hurdle makes a revenge mission in the World Hurdle tantalizingly tempting. He won the Royal & SunAlliance Chase on good ground and the French Champion Hurdle in June on very soft, so handles all surfaces, and he's guaranteed to stay. Whether he possesses the toe to beat Baracouda is doubtful - particularly at Cheltenham where the French horse thrives.SH BOOM7yo trained by Jonjo O'NeillForm: F7-5He was travelling quite sweetly when falling at the ninth in the 2004 Stayers' Hurdle before running a lack-lustre race at Aintree. The only sighting we've had of Sh Boom this season was when he was a ring-rusty fifth to Baracouda, Crystal D'Ainay and Rule Supreme in the Long Walk Hurdle at Windsor. Jonjo O'Neill's yard has been under a gigantic cloud since Christmas and it would be staggering if Sh Boom could show his true colours after such a setback.WESTENDER9yo trained by Martin PipeForm: 2313Another Pipe candidate. Almost certainly stays three miles but has eight lengths to find with stable companion Korelo on Cleeve Hurdle form (only 4lb better off). He previously made all the running at Cheltenham to win the Steel Plate and Sections Hurdle but there's no chance he'll get his own way here. Looks up against it but has excelled at Cheltenham before.CONCLUSIONAlthough far from convincing at Newbury and Windsor there is no doubt that Francois Doumen will produce BARACOUDA in peak condition to win his third Stayers crown. It is hard to see his old adversary Crystal D'Ainay gaining the upper hand - his lack of finishing power being the main drawback. Rule Supreme is tough as old boots but was probably flattered by his turbo-finish at Windsor. Now that Royal Rosa has fallen by the wayside it is hoped that Graham Wylie will allow Inglis Drever to take his chance. Two miles is far too sharp for him and he is expected to give the dual former champion the most to fear.Bet on the Ladbrokes World Hurdle with LadbrokesVCBet (free fifty pound bet)Stan James (free twenty five pound bet)Blue Square (free twenty five pound bet)Source: attheraces.co.uk