35 Aiming To Be On Top Of The World

The #250,000 Ladbrokes World Hurdle, the championship event for three-mile hurdlers and the centrepiece of day three of The Festival has attracted 35 entries for its 2007 renewal with nine entries from Ireland and three from France bidding to take on the sponsors' red-hot 4/5 favourite Black Jack Ketchum.

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The winner of last year's Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle, Black Jack Ketchum remains unbeaten after eight starts, including on his seasonal debut in the Mears Group 'Relkeel' Hurdle at Cheltenham on December 9. His trainer Jonjo O'Neill has a five-strong entry that also includes East Tycoon, Fire Dragon, Refinement and the now 11-year-old Rhinestone Cowboy.

Inglis Drever, successful two years ago, could bid to become only the second horse to recapture his crown in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle following Crimson Embers in 1982 and 1986. He showed he retained his ability with a Grade Two success at Newbury in November.

There are nine entries from Ireland, including the star mare Asian Maze and Hardy Eustace, successful in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle in 2005 and 2006. Adrian Maguire never won the Ladbrokes World Hurdle as a jockey but is now rapidly making a name for himself as a trainer and he could be represented by Celestial Wave, successful in Grade Two company on her latest two starts at Navan and Leopardstown.

One of France's best performers, the Francois Cottin-trained Princesse d'Anjou, is an intriguing entry. He won the Grade One Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris at Auteuil in May and also landed the Grade One Prix La Haye Jousselin under Philip Carberry in November. Last season's Adonis Hurdle winner Kasbah Bliss, trained by Francois Doumen, and Millenium Royal also represent France.

Mighty Man, third when favourite in 2006, is entered again while other interesting contenders include Blazing Bailey, who chased home Black Jack Ketchum at Cheltenham last month, the progressive Flight Leader, successful twice at Cheltenham this season, and Dom D'Orgeval, a winner at Fakenham yesterday afternoon.

Edward Gillespie, Managing Director at Cheltenham, commented: 'The Ladbrokes World Hurdle frequently produces one of the best finishes at The Festival and the quality of the entries again this year suggest that we could well be in for another treat in 2007.'

Mike Dillon, Director of Public Relations at Ladbrokes, added: 'Everyone is waiting with bated breath to see if Black Jack Ketchum can make the transition from novice to champion in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.'

Ladbrokes' latest betting:

4/5 Black Jack Ketchum, 5/1 Inglis Drever, 6/1 Mighty Man, 8/1 Asian Maze, 12/1 Celestial Wave, 20/1 Flight Leader, 25/1 Hardy Eustace, 25/1 Lough Derg, 25/1 Princesse d'Anjou, 33/1 Al Eile, 33/1 Blazing Bailey, 33/1 Dom d'Orgeval, 33/1 Fire Dragon, 33/1 Irish Wolf, 33/1 United, 40/1 Lord Sam, 40/1 Material World, 40/1 Refinement, 40/1 Rhinestone Cowboy, 40/1 Strangely Brown, 40/1 Temoin, 50/1 Kasbah Bliss, 50/1 Labelthou, 50/1 Over The Creek, 66/1 Finger Onthe Pulse, 66/1 Our Ben, 66/1 Powerstation, 66/1 Sleeping Night, 100/1 Just Beth, 100/1 Millenium Royal, 100/1 Overstrand, 100/1 Redemption, 200/1 East Tycoon, 200/1 Korelo, 250/1 Santa's Son