Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle 2012

5.30 Punchestown

Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner €99,200

Advice: 1 pt win, 1 pt each/way, Berties Dream (16/1 Hills)

Berties Dream: Former Albert Bartlett Hurdle winner in tacky ground at Cheltenham Festival; Hasn’t quite had things go his way chasing this season despite wide margin win at Thurles but that seemed to show he retained at least some of his ability and of his 6wins, two of have come on heavy, one on soft to heavy, and other on soft; With ground as it is today, hard to discount.

Get Me Out Of Here: Classy, for the large part consistent and unlucky handicapper who was third at Cheltenham Festival for the third time in a row when second under topweight in Coral Cup; Showed himself graded class when winning well at Fairyhouse last time and may be getting steadily better once again; Wouldn’t discount but worry about heavy ground and longer trip.

Mikael D’Haugenet: Found a bit of form this season after unsuccessful chasing campaign last year, winning three weak contests in Ireland; Defeat inconceivable at Navan according to the market but well held by Mourad in second that day and hard to fancy based on his meetings with Voler La Vedette earlier in the season, while he was pulled up at Cheltenham in the World Hurdle.

Mourad: As consistent as ever last season, winning twice at Grade 2 level and 3rd in staying events at Cheltenham and Punchestown last season (then fourth behind stablemate Thousand Stars in France); Beaten twice by Voler La Vedette this season though and while he has place prospects, winning chance seems remote.

Whatuthink: Easily held by Mourad and Mikael D’Haugenet on Navan form and has little chance here.

Won In The Dark: Runs his race and doesn’t mind cut in the ground as shown by his good second to Cousin Vinny on this surface in Febuary, but outclassed in these events anyway.

Quevega: Superb mare who made it 4 Mares Hurdles’ in a row at Cheltenham with ease last time, returning as she usually does from a long break (seasonal debut) going for a hat – trick in this race and has obvious claims but main rival Voler La Vedette now improved a lot since she learned how to settle and ground this testing may well bring her to the limit of stamina despite the fact she has 4 wins on heavy and one on soft; Deserved favourite but there are worries over her stamina.

Voler La Vedette: 7 lengths behind Quevega in last year’s renewal but safe to assume she has improved since; Gained a hugely deserved first Grade 1 when running out ready winner of Hatton’s Grace, with 3 and ¾ lengths to spare over Mourad, but far more impressive when giving said rival a far heavier beating on worse terms at Leopardstown; Turned over by Zaidpour in a sprint finish in Galmoy Hurdle but career best of stronger pace to come close second to Big Bucks at Cheltenham (had realistic looked as if she could go past at one point) and fascinating contender, with soft.heavy ground record a hope for handling this surface.

What A Charm: Only ran one decent race since winning Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle last year and masses to find.

VERDICT:  Quevega is a worthy favourite for a hat trick of titles in this event but she’s a short enough price at 5/4 given how her rival Voler La Vedette has improved in the last year while ground this testing (significant amounts of standing water on the track yesterday amd 5mm of rain overnight) could find any horse out no matter how well it copes with soft condtions. Voler La Vedette herself is interesting but in the conditions BERTIES DREAM is too big to discount at 16’s with Hills. A winner of the Albert Bartlett two years ago, he’s often shown his best on testing ground and could well be the one to profit if the speedier types get bogged down too easily. Get Me Out Of Here could feature but this trip and ground ask new questions of him.