Can Nicholls Continue Good World Hurdle Run?

The Grade One ladbrokes World Hurdle is the big event of the day at the Cheltenham Festival. To follow in the footsteps of former champions Big Buck`s, Solwhit and More Of That, the 17 runners will have to come out on top after tackling the 12 hurdles on the 3m trip. The current favourite for the race is Saphir Du Rheu for the World Hurdle`s leading trainer Paul Nicholls, most bookmakers currently offering this six-year-old at a price of 6/1.

Confidence in this horse has been exacerbated by his success in the Grade Two Cleeve Hurdle over this course and distance last time out. This victory, beating Reve De Sivola (25/1 - boylesports, Stan James) by a neck, proved that he had fully recovered from his early fall in the Grade One Kauto Star Novices` Chase at Kempton. The Stewart Family mount`s Cheltenham outing was his first back over hurdles since failing to complete twice in his short career as a novice chaser.

That Cleeve Hurdle triumph also represented Saphir Du Rheu`s first attempt at 24f as a hurdler and his success in that race will stand him in good stead here. The former Fred Winter 2013 also-ran will, however, have to prove that he can handle very good ground with all of his wins having soft in their going descri ptions. This is the only negative for the 165 rated chaser and looks good to justify favouritism here in his second Festival appearance.

Saphir Du Rheu`s nearest market rival then is Zarkandar, the four-time Cheltenham Festival challenger. Nicholls` second string has only been triumphant on one of these occasions at the track, this being back in his novice season in the JLT Triumph Hurdle.

The eight-year-old finished fourth in this race last season and whilst it is hard to be progressive at this stage in this horse`s career, he has looked to have improved judging the evidence of his last two outings. Under the guidance of Nicholls` stable jockey Sam Twiston-Davies, the charge picked up a third in a 25f Grade One in Auteuil before losing out to Reve De Sivola by a head in the Grade One Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.

Such a strong battle with Nick Williams` charge suggests that theoretically Zarkandar should not be too far off Saphir Du Rheu on form. The Chris Giles and Potensis Bloodstock collaboration is, however, more used to being the bridesmaid nowadays and will be aiming to scoop his first win since coming up trumps in 2013`s Aintree Hurdle.

Both Coral and Skybet have 13/2 on the horse being able to get back to his lifetime best form and complete in pole position.

Lieutenant Colonel is one of three Gigginstown entrants and is the only other horse to have single figure odds at the time of writing. The Kayf Tara-sired mount of Sandra Hughes can still be picked up at odds of 9/1 at a number of bookmakers.

The former Neptune Investment Management Novices` Hurdle participant is currently unbeaten in two and has been rested in preparation for this race. His two victories have both come in Irish races with Grade One status, the former round 20f at Fairyhouse and the latter at 3m at Leopardstown.

This three-quarters-of-a-length win in the 24f Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle was the horse`s first ever attempt at the distance and saw him get the better of numerous more experienced World Hurdle rivals. Potential punters must have to bear in mind Lieutenant Colonel`s want for more testing ground.

Also in with a chance are last year`s Coral Cup winner Whisper (11/1 - william hill) and At Fishers Cross for Rebecca Curtis and AP McCoy who`s a 28/1 chance (Numerous).

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12/03/2015     © Frixo 2026