50 Bid For World Domination

A total of 50 entries - 15 more than in 2005 - are revealed today for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, which boasts £230,000 in prize money and is the feature event on The Festival’s penultimate day, Thursday, March 16. » Click here for Entries

Although last year’s winner Inglis Drever will be absent through injury, his stablemates No Refuge, Akilak and Royal Rosa are among those who could bid for the prestigious prize and provide trainer Howard Johnson with a strong back-up team.

The form of the Grade 1 totepsort Long Walk Hurdle at Chepstow on December 27 is well represented by the winner My Way De Solzen, second-placed Neptune Collonges, Starzaan (3rd), Brewster (5th), Carlys Quest (6th) and Mistanoora (7th).

Mighty Man and The Market Man, who finished first and second in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham in December, could reoppose while Martin Pipe has six entries - Classified, It Takes Time, Korelo, Lough Derg, Standin Obligation and Westender.

Rhinestone Cowboy is one of four Jonjo O’Neill-trained entries alongside the star novice hurdler Black Jack Ketchum, Exotic Dancer and Fire Dragon.

A strong international entry includes five French-trained performers - 2002 and 2003 winner Baracouda, his stablemates Millenium Royal and Blue Canyon as well as the Arnaud Chaille Chaille-trained duo Ambobo, one of last season’s top novices, and Sunspot.

There is a record 13-strong Irish-trained entry including Golden Cross, trained by Mick Halford, the brilliant mare Asian Maze, Strangely Brown, a Grade 1 winner in France for Eric McNamara, Rosaker, successful in the Grade 2 Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown last month, and the John Queally-trained Al Eile.

Mike Dillon, PR Director at Ladbrokes, said: “We’re thrilled with both the number and quality of the entries in this year’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle. There’s obviously a sadness that the reigning champion is not able to defend his crown but it means that we have a very open and exciting race in prospect.”

Edward Gillespie, Managing Director at Cheltenham Racecourse, added: “Victory in last year’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle ensured Inglis Drever success in last season’s inaugural British Horseracing Board Order of Merit and we have another high-quality race in prospect this year with 13 entries from Ireland and five from France along with a strong home team.”

Ladbrokes latest betting is: 4 Rhinestone Cowboy, 9/2 Baracouda, 5 No Refuge, 10 Asian Maze, Golden Cross, 14 My Way De Solzen, Royal Rosa, 16 Al Eile, Ambobo, Attorney General, Black Jack Ketchum, Mighty Man, Neptune Collonges, 20 Millenium Royal, Patriarch Express, The Market Man, 25 Blue Canyon, Standin Obligation, 33 Crystal D´Ainay, Emotional Moment, It Takes Time, Korelo, Lough Derg, Sunspot, 40 Classified, Essex, Rosaker, 50 Dancing Bay, Exotic Dancer, Fire Dragon, Lord Sam, Starzaan, Strangely Brown, Westender, 66 Akilak, Brewster, Holy Orders, It´s Just Harry, Redemption, Royal Paradise, 100 Davenport Milenium, Mistanoora, My Will, Rooftop Protest, Tramantano, 150 Don´t Be Bitin, Sh Boom, 200 Carlys Quest, 500 It´s Wallace Jnr, The Joker