Ladbrokes World Hurdle Analysis

The 2005 Ladbrokes World Hurdle has received a total of 35 entries with all of the leading contenders on course for the three-mile contest, worth £200,000 this year.

Heading the entries is Francois Doumen's Baracouda, the leading three-mile hurdler of recent years and winner of this contest in 2002 and 2003. Last season he had to settle for second behind Iris's Gift, with the Alan King-trained Crystal D'Ainay in third. This season Baracouda has won his two starts, beating Crystal D'Ainay on both occasions.

On November 27 he prevailed by three-quarters of a length in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and on December 18 he held on by the same distance with Willie Mullins' Rule Supreme finishing very strongly to take third in the Long Walk Hurdle at Windsor.

Rule Supreme, successful at last year's Festival in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, has been mixing hurdling and chasing this season, winning the French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil in June. He was last seen out when falling at the last in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.

In addition to Rule Supreme, there are four Irish-trained entries headed by Emotional Moment, winner of the Grade Two Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown on December 28 when he had Yogi a distance back in second. A big disappointment in that contest was the pulled-up Rosaker, trained by Noel Meade, who had previously shown very good form when placed behind Solerina and Rhinestone Cowboy. The remaining Irish-trained entry is Brigadier Brown, who has a lot to do on official ratings.

Jonjo O'Neill was successful with Iris's Gift in 2004 and has four entries to choose from this year. The pick of O'Neill's quartet would appear to be Sh Boom, a winner over the course and distance last season and successful in the 2004 Premier Stayers' Hurdle at Haydock. He could be joined by Specular, formerly a leading hurdler in Australia but largely disappointing during his British career so far, Exotic Dancer and Knife Edge.

Martin Pipe, successful with Balasani in 1994 and Cyborgo two years later, is the trainer with the highest number of entries, eight in total. The Nicholashayne handler's octet includes Copeland, last season's Scottish Champion Hurdle victor, the 2002 Coral Cup winner Ilnamar, It Takes Time, fourth behind Baracouda in the Long Walk Hurdle at Windsor last month, Korelo, who defied top weight when taking a handicap at Cheltenham on January 1, Lough Derg, triumphant in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on December 11, Therealbandit, better known for his exploits over fences, Westender, runner-up in the 2003 Smurfit Champion Hurdle and a winner at Cheltenham last time, as well as Quick, who won a qualifier for the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham on December 10 when he built up a huge lead but was well beaten behind Korelo last time.

Cumbrian-based Nicky Richards has three entries to choose from, with the exciting Monet's Garden taking centre stage. The seven-year-old grey won five of his first six starts but was a major disappointment on his only visit to Cheltenham when fifth to Lough Derg in the Relkeel Hurdle on December 11. The other two entries from the Richards stable are Telemoss, fourth behind Baracouda in the 2002 renewal of this race, and the tough veteran The French Furze, successful in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle last season.

Philip Hobbs has two entries in Monkerhostin and Gold Medallist. Monkerhostin has successfully mixed chasing and hurdling over the past couple of seasons, recording his biggest success over the smaller obstacles in the 2004 Coral Cup at The Festival and earlier this season taking the bonusprint.com Gold Cup over fences at Cheltenham.

Gold Medallist was previously a useful Flat performer for David Elsworth, landing the Group Two Prix Kergorlay at Deauville last season, when he defeated Brian Boru. There was a lot to like about his hurdling debut when he beat Secret Ploy at Exeter on December 16.

Another trainer doubly represented is Howard Johnson, who has Inglis Drever and Royal Rosa engaged. Inglis Drever, also entered in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle, was runner-up to Fundamentalist in last season's Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle and has occupied the same position in both his starts this year, behind Harchibald in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle and behind Back In Front in the totesport Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham on December 11.

Royal Rosa, sold for a then record 340,000 guineas at Doncaster sales in May, 2003, has yet to start this campaign but was a very decent novice last season, winning three times including in a Grade Two contest at Haydock when he defeated Fundamentalist.

There are some promising novices among the entries including Gallery God, a Listed winner on the Flat and successful three time over hurdles this season, and the James Fanshawe-trained Pole Star, third in the 2003 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and impressive in winning two of his three starts over hurdles.

Two entries who also had useful Flat form are Corrib Eclipse, winner of the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2004, and the Listed-placed Romany Prince, who was bought for 60,000 guineas out of David Elsworth's stable at Tattersalls in October by John Webb, an owner with Lincolnshire handler Steve Gollings.

The remaining entries include Lord Sam, one of last season's leading novice chasers who could revert to hurdling after jumping problems this season, the 2002 Smurfit Champion Hurdle runner-up Marble Arch, Peter Bowen's tough performer Mr Ed, runner-up in the Cesarewitch on the Flat at Newmarket last October, Nicky Henderson's useful dual-purpose performer Dancing Bay, placed twice in Group company on the Flat last season, and It's Wallace.