World Hurdle Preview: Vroum another Mullins Power-house

Thistlecrack was available at 25/1 for the 2016 World Hurdle before his return in November, but impressive wins in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot mean he’s now generally 9/4 clear market leader. With More of That (RSA) and Annie Power (Mares’ Hurdle) almost certainly heading elsewhere, there’s little doubt Thistlecrack is the one to beat as things stand, but there’s no reason—barring injury to his nearest form rivals—why his odds should shorten notably between now and Thursday March 17.

The World Hurdle has a habit of producing multiple winners, with Baracouda, Inglis Drever and Big’ Buck’s having achieved the feat this century, and Cole Harden’s two runs this season have almost certainly been about putting him back on the right road to follow up his success last year. He failed to come for his third in the Long Distance Hurdle when filling the same spot in the Relkeel won by Camping Ground, but he was probably hindered by the even softer ground and it’s be no surprise if he’s back to something like his best on (presumably) quicker ground at Cheltenham. That said, he’s another whose odds (8/1) may not change much until the final field is announced.

Camping Ground has rather come from left-field, though it must be pointed out that he’s a member of the Timeform Fifty To Follow this year. He was undoubtedly very impressive in the Relkeel at Cheltenham in January, after a planned assault on the King George had been abandoned following his unseat over fences on his return, but he’s not certain to stay a testing three miles (also entered in the Champion Hurdle, while the Aintree Hurdle may prove the ideal race for him).

Vroum Vroum Mag is a fascinating contender given she’s a prolific winner and represents the same connections as 2014 World Hurdle runner-up Annie Power.  She’ll have to improve significantly on what she’s done over hurdles so far to threaten the form principals, but she’s actually only had three starts over timber (done most of her racing for Willie Mullins over fences, unbeaten in six outings in that sphere) and didn’t have to break sweat to land cramped odds at Clonmel last time. Vroum Vroum Mag is also in the Ryanair at the Cheltenham Festival, but it looks potentially significant that she will try (almost) three miles for the first time in the Warfield Mares’ Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday and she could well be plenty shorter for the World Hurdle following that race. Willie Mullins also has Nichols Canyon entered, but he’s a strong traveller who’s yet to race over further than 21 furlongs.  

The Irish back-up comes in the Gigginstown-owned shapes of Alpha des Obeaux and Prince of Scars. The former is a most likeable and genuine sort, as he proved again when running away with the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran (first-time cheekpieces) this week, beating At Fishers Cross who has finished in the frame in the last two World Hurdles. If he rates a live contender for this race—which he does—then so does Prince of Scars who beat him by four lengths when winning the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown, albeit when suited by the way the race developed (held up).

Paul Nicholls has four horses entered as he bids to win his fifth World Hurde, namely Silviniaco Conti, last year’s runner-up Saphir du Rheu and Ptit Zig who have all run over fences this season and Aux Ptits Soins who was being lined up to start a chasing career last autumn before meeting with a setback. It’s not the ideal preparation for any of them, and the most interesting almost by default is Aux Ptits Soins who hasn’t raced since landing the Coral Cup at the 2015 Cheltenham Festival on his stable debut and just third hurdles start overall. Aux Ptits Soins has 18 lb to find with Thistlecrack, and clues as to whether he’s fancied to run a big race or not will come from the market in the coming weeks (currently shortest priced of the Nicholls quartet at 16/1).

To sum up, Thistlecrack and Cole Harden are clearly players but their current prices reflect their claims, whereas Vroum Vroum Mag should probably be clear second favourite and her odds could well contract after she’s run at Ascot on Saturday (here’s hoping!). What’s more, the Non-Runner No Bet takes care of the possibility of her deputising for Annie Power in the Mares’ Hurdle should the current odds-on favourite fail to show up. Aux Ptits Soins and Saphir du Rheu (given a breathing operation since his last run) are two more whose (long) odds could shorten, but they are very hard to recommend at this stage.

Recommended bet:

Back Vroum Vroum Mag at 8/1 NRNB in the World Hurdle