A top class line up for this years, Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle. We have the winner of the World Hurdle from Cheltenham, taking on the super mare Quevega. With a few other decent rivals for that pair, we should be in for a cracker.
Solwhit stepped up to 3 miles for the first time at Cheltenham, and was produced with a well timed challenge to hit the front on landing over the last, I felt it was 50/50 whether he’d have won, had Celestial Halo jumped the last with the same aplomb as he had. Both horses turned up for the stayers hurdle at Aintree, but with Celestial Halo disappointing it was left to Solwhit to confirm the Cheltenham form, with an easy victory. He beat today’s rival Holywell, by 3l, but was value for more like 8l, having been eased close home. He was visually very impressive, but I think it might be a mistake to rate the form much higher than Cheltenham. The 2nd Holywell, while improving, only won a handicap off 140 at Cheltenham, the 4th Won in the Dark, only rated 138 going into the race, and appearing to be on the downgrade, was only 3l further back. It’s true Won in the Dark was always better on decent ground, and we haven’t had good ground in Ireland, in about 2 years.
If Solwhit is only as good as he looked at Cheltenham, and I think that’s the most likely, then he has little, if anything in hand here. His trainer also reported that he seemed a bit flat after Aintree, and he could have done with another week. The official ground is also still ‘soft’. Granted there must be some drying by now, after a rain free few days, but if it is soft, then that places more emphasis on stamina, and that is hardly in his favour either.
Quevega hasn’t got beaten since May 2009, granted her connections seem to think the racecourse, is no place for this fabulous racehorse, and thus she’s only appeared 7 times since then. Apart from winning an egg and spoon race at Cheltenham, her tally includes winning this event for the last three years. In each of those victories, she came to Punchestown on the back of an easy victory in the Mares Hurdle, she again won that race this season, albeit not as easily as before. It would be wrong to assume she wasn’t at her best though, she got hampered, and clipped heels when in a good position just before the downhill run, and as a result was left with a lot to do. That she picked up so well to win, suggests she’s as good as ever. I had doubts about her really wanting a stamina test at this trip, but she put those to bed with an easy victory on atrocious ground last year, in a race run at a fair gallop for the conditions. Her best form is probably on a par with Solwhit, but since she’s not lost for so long, she probably has more potential to be even better, than he has. Granted he’s unexposed, and 2/2 at staying trips.
Reve De Sivola came 4th in the World Hurdle, under a strange ride from Richard Johnson. With the ground ridding faster than he’d like, and his horse being one of the few, than needed a test at the trip, he stood still, along with the others when the tapes went up. As a result, the early stages were run slowly, and while the pace picked up a good way out, it was never going to be enough, for him to beat the speed horses. He was only beaten 5 1/2l, has softer ground tomorrow, and with Solwhit having another race since then, he must have a good chance of turning the tables. Daryl Jacob takes the ride here, and he will surely ensure this becomes more of a stamina test.
Holywell dispelled doubts about him being as good on better ground, when wining the Pertemps at Cheltenham, and then continued his improvement, by coming 2nd to Solwhit at Aintree. In truth he was well beaten though, and it may not have represented that much improvement on his Cheltenham form, he will need to come on a good bit more to win this.
Fiveforthree ran a cracker in the Coral Cup at the Festival, off a rating of 149. Indeed he looked likely to win rounding the bend. That run came on the back of a two year lay off, the handicapper was kind in dropping him, from 163 on his previous start. The truth is, even though he won this race back in 09, that was a poor race, and he’d need a career best to win tomorrow. I wouldn’t expect him to come on much fitness wise either, as Willie was quoted as saying Cheltenham had been the aim all year, and he’s too good a trainer to have left him short. Indeed Fiveforthree has a very good record fresh. I also think he’s probably better at that trip, than the extra 3 furlongs here, and all told he has his work cut out.
Of the two favourites, I’d much prefer Quevega, but at the prices I think the bet has to be, Reve De Sivola, at the 7/1 he is with
Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle – Tips – 5.30 Punchestown
2 pt win Reve De Sivola at 7/1 BOG with BetVictor
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Stakes are on a scale of 0-10. Further details can be found in Free Horse Racing Tips – Staking and Betting Bank size Recommendations
BOG stands for Best Odds Guaranteed, which means if you take a price and SP is better, you get the SP.
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