2012 Cheltenham World Hurdle Preview & Top Tips

The World Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race open to horses aged four years and older. It’s part of the Cheltenham Festival and is the show piece on day three of the prestigious meeting. The race is run over a trip of three miles and there are 12 hurdles for competitors to negotiate. Founded in 1972 when it replaced the Spa Hurdle, the race was originally know as the Stayers Hurdle before being renamed as the World Hurdle in 2005.

Multiple winners of the World Hurdle are not unusual. Two horses have won the race three times in recent years, Inglis Drever in 2005, 2007 and 2008, while Big Buck’s has won the World Hurdle for the last three years. Ruby Walsh is the leading jockey with three victories since 1972 and three trainers have won the race on three occasions, Fulke Walwyn, Howard Johnson and Paul Nicholls.

Big Buck’s won the 2011 World Hurdle in arguably his toughest battle to date when getting the better of the David Pipe trained Grand Crus. Unfortunately, there will be no rematch this year as Grand Crus has taken up a chasing career but Big Buck’s will be going for an unprecedented fourth win in the race. Following Paul Nicholls training Kauto Star to win a fourth King George recently, it would be no surprise to see Big Buck’s achieve a similar feat.

2012 Cheltenham World Hurdle Trends

No horse older than 9 has won the World Hurdle since 1986.
No five year old has ever won the World Hurdle.
No Irish trained winner for 17 years.
6 of the last 10 renewals have been won by French bred horses.
16 of the last 18 winners were in action at the previous Cheltenham Festival.

2012 Cheltenham World Hurdle Tips

From a punting point of view where this year’s World Hurdle is concerned, it’s all about whether or not you want to pile in on Big Buck’s at very short odds. When you consider his record in hurdle races over this sort of trip (unbeaten in his last 15 starts) you could argue that his odds actually represent value. I think Paul Nicholls’ stable star is likely to make it four wins from four in the World Hurdle but from a punting point of view, an each way bet may be a better option.

For me, the most solid each way bet in the race hails from the same yard as last year’s runner up, the David Pipe trained Dynaste. This six year old gelding is still relatively unexposed over this trip and although beaten by Big Buck’s on their last two encounters, he ran will more promise at Cheltenham last time when hold up tactics were employed. If Big Buck’s turns up at anything less than 100%, Dynaste may well be able to take advantage.

Tipsters Pick: Back Dynaste each way @ 10/1 with William Hill
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2012 Cheltenham World Hurdle Betting (Prices from William Hill)

Big Bucks 4/9
Oscar Whisky 5/1
Thousand Stars 9/1
Dynaste 10/1
Quevega 12/1
Mikael Dhaguenet 14/1
Voler La Vedette 14/1
Zaidpour 14/1
Bobs Worth 14/1
Mourad 14/1
So Young 16/1
20/1 Bar