UK Horse Racing Tips

The World Hurdle, formerly the Stayers’ Hurdle, is run over 3 miles on the New Course at Cheltenham and forms the centrepiece of the third day of the Cheltenham Festival. The most notable absentee from this year’s renewal, due off at 3.20 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, 2013, is Paul Nicholls’ 10-year-old Big Buck’s, who suffered a tendon injury in December and isn’t expected to race again before November.

The absence of Big Buck’s, who’s won the last four renewals of the World Hurdle, means that the contest has a more open look to it this year. Nicky Henderson’s 8-year-old Oscar Whisky (4/1) heads the betting, but is closely attended by Nick Williams’ 8-year-old Reve De Sivola (5/1) and Noel Meade’s 6-year-old Monksland (6/1).

Reve De Sivola is rated 1lb inferior to Oscar Whisky, according to official BHA ratings, but beat Nicky Henderson’s charge by a neck in the Cleeve Hurdle, over 3 miles on heavy going, at Cheltenham in January. Reve De Sivola reverted to the smaller obstacles in December, after nearly a year off, and has thrived since. He finished second, beaten 9 lengths, behind Big Buck’s in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on his seasonal reappearance and followed that performance with an impressive 14-length win in the Long Walk Hurdle, over 3 miles 1 furlong at Ascot, later the same month. He’s clearly a force to be reckoned with at this level and, although his two wins this season came on heavy going, he won on good and soft going as a novice.

Oscar Whisky also has excellent credentials, having failed by just a neck to overhaul Reve De Sivola in the Cleeve Hurdle on only his second attempt 2 miles 4½ furlongs. He ran in the World Hurdle last year, finishing fifth, beaten 13½ lengths by Big Buck’s and, strictly on that form, is held by Alan King’s 6-year-old Smad Place (20/1). However, now that he’s conclusively proved his stamina over 3 miles, there may be more to come from the Oscar gelding and he deserves his position at the head of the market.

Monksland finished third, beaten 18 lengths, by Simonsig in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival and has won two of his three starts this season. He appeared to improve for the step up to 3 miles in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown and although he’s rated inferior, by some way, to Oscar Whisky and Reve De Sivola, according to the BHA, he remains unexposed over staying distances.

Donald McCain’s 8-year-old Peddlers Cross (12/1), who finished second in the 2011 Champion Hurdle, is another who’s reverted to hurdles this season after an unsuccessful spell over fences. He’s only rated slightly inferior to Oscar Whisky and Reve De Sivola, according to the BHA, but had to work harder than expected to beat Cue To Cue, to whom he’s rated 35lb superior, in a small race over 2 miles 6 furlongs at Musselburgh earlier this month. Whether he’s still worthy of a handicap mark of 165 is debatable.

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