World Hurdle is thrown wide open

THE absence of Big Buck’s with a season-ending injury has led to a record 61 entries for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Even though the legendary four-time winner is on the sidelines, his trainer Paul Nicholls still holds a strong hand with six entries for this three-mile test.

Classy chaser Kauto Stone and Lexus Chase winner Tidal Bay, victorious in the John Smith’s Hurdle at Wetherby last November, feature among his possible contenders along with Aaim To Prosper, Celestial Halo, Prospect Wells and Wonderful Charm.

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Long Walk Hurdle winner Reve De Sivola is there for Nick Williams, while in-form Mark Bradstock has entered the novice Coneygree.

Locally, Malcolm Jefferson’s Cape Tribulation, who won the Pertemps Final last year, is a significant entry, though the horse has been racing over fences more recently and won Wetherby’s Rowland Meyrick Chase on Boxing Day.

Two of the most intriguing entries are Grands Crus and Dynaste. Stablemates at David Pipe’s yard, both have come close to beating Big Buck’s in the past with the former a close second to the champion in the 2011 renewal of this race.

Both are likely to have chase options at the Festival – Grands Crus will run in the Gold Cup or Ryanair Chase, while Dynaste is a hot favourite for the RSA Chase for novices.

However, Pipe is keen to keep his options open.

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“With Big Buck’s an absentee, it has thrown the World Hurdle wide open,” noted the Westcountry trainer.

“While Grands Crus and Dynaste will hold preferred engagements over fences, it would be foolish not to give them an entry and at least see what the likely opposition will be. After all, if you are not in it, you can’t win it.

“Grands Crus continues to please me at home and while he was fit enough to do himself justice; he has improved again since his fine third in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

“The ground that day was very testing and I am sure that he will be seen to even better effect on a sounder surface, something we should have come March.

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“Meanwhile Dynaste, who has made such an impressive start to his chasing career, is also very well at present.

“The plan with him is to go back to Newbury on February for a novices’ chase before taking in the Cheltenham Festival.”

Pipe, just like his poker-faced father Martin, is unlikely to make any final decisions until the eve of the Festival.

It is a tactic accepted by his stable jockey Tom Scudamore, who spoke yesterday about his three possible Gold Cup rides – the aforementioned Grands Crus as well as the David Bridgwater-trained pair of The Giant Bolster and impressive Ascot winner Wyck Hill.

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“With Big Buck’s out of the World Hurdle picture the race is a possibility for both Grands Crus and Dynaste,” said Scudamore, who rode The Giant Bolster in last year’s Gold Cup when second to Synchronised.

“Wyck Hill will run at Exeter next Wednesday in a novice hurdle. He won’t go over fences again before the Festival. I still think Bobs Worth will take all the beating in the Gold Cup, while Silviniaco Conti has done nothing but be impressive this season for Paul Nicholls.

“Of the Irish entries, I really like the Willie Mullins-trained Sir Des Champs who was a fast finishing fourth in the Lexus Chase, despite some jumping errors. Better ground will suit.”

As for the more immediate turf action, Chepstow’s card today must pass an early morning inspection, while Musselburgh’s meeting was called off yesterday.

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Various checks today will determine the status of tomorrow’s high-profile meetings at Ascot, Haydock and Taunton, with snow forecast at all three venues.

The outlook is little better – Towcester’s planned card on Sunday is already off.

Calgary Bay is set to defend his title in the Sky Bet Chase tomorrow week – but a return visit to the John Smith’s Grand National is not on the cards.

A fine performer for Henrietta Knight over the years, he finished 14th over the Aintree fences last season.

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Since Knight’s retirement, the gelding is now with Mick Channon and was well-beaten in two outings earlier this winter.

Knight, who works closely with Channon, said: “He’s going to go to Doncaster for the Sky Bet Chase, which he won last year, just so long as the weather is all right.

“I don’t think he’ll go for the National again. The owners don’t think he quite gets four miles, so he might go for something like the Topham there instead.”

Trainer Andrew Balding expects Bonfire to be ready for a racecourse comeback in the Spring.

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A great hope for owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing in the Investec Derby after winning the Dante Stakes at York, he was a disappointment at Epsom and then in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

As he had frequently shown signs of temperament, it was decided Bonfire would be gelded.

“He’s coming back to me next month,” said Balding.

“We haven’t seriously thought of a plan, but he might run in something like the Earl Of Sefton at Newmarket.”

Malton-born jockey Andrew Tinkler partnered the George Baker-trained Abigail Lynch to a well-judged win in a Bumper race at Lingfield yesterday.

“I think she could be quite nice,” said Baker.

“Considering she won a three-mile point-to-point in Ireland, she has done well to win over two. The mares’ bumper at Aintree looks an obvious race.”