3.20 Cheltenham (Day 3, Race 4)
Ladbrokes World Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1) (4YO plus)
Winner £156,613
Advice: 1 pt win Oscar Whisky (4/1 general), 1 pt win Reve
De Sivola (6/1 general)
Bog Warrior: Superb as novice chaser, when he looked to have
the world at his feet following superb win in Drinmore last year; Things not
gone so well since then (jumping went to pot) but still retains ability as
shown by his three hurdles wins this season, last of which was deeply impressive
when beating Zaidpour; Definitely good enough but ground dried out a lot and
record on faster ground not so encouraging. 
Celestial Halo: Shaped as if retaining plenty of the ability
that saw him win a Triumph and come desperately close in Champion Hurdle when
fourth at Wincaton lately, but never gone further than 2m4f and stamina to
prove; Age not on his side either. 
Cross Kennon: Still useful and showed that when third to Across
The Bay at Haydock last time but twice well beaten in this race; Hard to see
him baking it third time lucky. 
Get Me Out Of Here: Runner up at last 3 festivals here, saddled
by his weight when second to Son Of Flicka in Coral Cup; Since won well twice
and beaten by ground before race was going behind Oscar Whisky in Coral Hurdle;
Should stay 3m and play a part here. 
Oscara Dara: No show in Welsh Champion Hurdle (recently made
a handicap) looked too bad to be true after his Excellent handicap performance when winning
the Lanzarote at Kempton upped to 2m5f and bred to stay this trip, but needs to
find a stone to be in the frame here.
Oscar Whisky: Arguably the class act of this field, winning
Aintree Hurdle for the past two years and being unbeaten outside of the
Cheltenham Festival over hurdles when staying upright; Only fifth in this last
year when he emptied coming to the last, but seemingly had no stamina problems
when second to Reve De Sivola in heavy ground Cleeve Hurdle on Trials Day; Far
better ground this afternoon in his favour and must go close if son song
(suggested he wasn’t right last year). 
Peddlers Cross: One of the best horses in this field at his
best, having won the 2012 Neptune and beaten only by Hurricane Fly at the 2011
Festival in Champion; Chasing went badly for him and seen just twice this
season, but looked in good health even if just useful form at Musselburgh last
month; Can go well. 
Reve De Sivola: Has thrived since returning to hurdles from
chasing (never got the hang of jumping), distant runner up to Big Bucks’ at
Newbury but then uber impressive winner of Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot (heavy,
Smad Place distant second) and then when nosing out Oscar Whisky here in same conditions;
Can go well today and ground shouldn’t be such a problem (plenty of good ground
form) but no doubting rival will be suited more by conditions.
Smad Place: Ran a stormer when third in this last year but
since disappointing, well behind Tidal Bay (absent) in November, and Reve De Sivola
in Long Walk Hurdle; Sure to get much closer today thanks to better ground and
good fresh, so possibilities for all that this a more competitive renewal. 
Solwhit: Multiple Grade 1 winner, as good as any in this
lineup (one of very few horses to have beaten Hurricane Fly) and retains good
mount of potential from long layoff with second to Bog Warrior and good Grade 3
win; This far more testing than either assignment however and poor run in 2010
Champion not a help; More needed.
So Young: Sent off just 2/1 for the 2011 Neptune but third
then and never been upto it in Grade 1, or indeed Graded company, since then;
Behind Zaidpour on two occasions this season and while he reversed form convincingly
last time, more needed here and others readily preferred. 
Wonderful Charm: Useful hurdler in France and showed signs
he would build on that when running out an easy winner of Persian War Novices’
Hurdle (produced some classy types); Breathing op since and not seen, and
masses of improvement needed here; Surely can do better, but just 5 and hard to
take his readiness for such a challenge on trust. 
Zaidpour: Finally got that 1st Grade 1 win when getting better
off So Young (third) in Hatton’s Grace, and ahead of him once again when second
in 3m Grade 2 at Leopardstown; Reverse to So Young disappointing latest and yet
to finish in money at least two festivals.
VERDICT: It’s a tremendous shame that Big Bucks isn’t here
to defend his title but we have a contest of immense class in his absence and
one to be enjoyed. Any number have claims, but if OSCAR WHISKY stays well
enough he’s the class hose of the race and he deserves a chance to atone for
his below par showing in last year’s renewal, and he holds solid claims of overturning
his Cleeve Hurdle defeat to REVE DE SIOVLA, who is well worth a saver. Bog
Warrior has the class but would have preferred softer ground, Peddlers Cross
could be an in running play, Solwhit can’t be discounted, and this better
ground brings Smad Place right back into play.
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