Cheltenham Ladbrokes World Hurdle Day 2010

The centre piece of the third day of the Cheltenham Festival is the Ladbrokes World Hurdle worth £260,000 run over 3 miles. Big Bucks will be a warm order to repeat his win of last year. His price will be prohibitive for the small punter but that means there should be some value about the other runners. Tidal Bay and Time for Rupert showed they stayed the trip when finishing first and second in the Cleeve Hurdle on Cheltenham Trials Day at the end of January. Karabak owned by J.P.McManus and to be ridden by Tony McCoy is another with a chance but the forgotten horse in the race is Cousin Vinny (pictured stumbling when cantering all over Pandorama at Leopardstown last season). He has not taken to chasing this season and did not set the world alight over hurdles last season as expected. He showed himself to be the outstanding bumper performer in 2007/8 season. Provided he stays the 3 miles he could be the each way value.

The race before the World Hurdle is the Ryanair Chase worth £220,000 run over 2 miles 5 furlongs. Nicky Henderson runs three in this namely Barbers Shop, Petit Robin and Jack the Giant. Poquelin from the Paul Nicholls yard has been antepost favourite for this for some time. Next in the betting is Tranquil Sea from the Edward O’Grady yard in Ireland. Tranquil Sea won the Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase at Cheltenham back in November. A year previous Barbers Shop ran second to Imperial Commander in the Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase giving him weight and has since run in the top chasers without getting his head in front. This could be his and Nicky Henderson’s opportunity to give The Queen a Cheltenham winner.

For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".