World Hurdle Preview - Festival Focus

I've Got The Power - Annie Power can beat the boys in the World Hurdle

I had thought about delving in to the World Hurdle before the weekend when there was inevitably going to be some fluctuation in the market with four of the main contenders for festival Thursday’s showpiece locking horns.

Alas time got the better of me but my thoughts haven’t really changed in the aftermath of the Cleeve and Annie Power’s run at Doncaster – if Annie Power takes her chance in the World Hurdle she can win it.

With her going over two miles at Doncaster many were convinced that was an indication that she will run in the Champion Hurdle rather than its longer companion. However Willie Mullins already has two for that race (including the favourite) and though Annie Power is with different owners I can’t imagine they’d make Ruby Walsh get off her – which he surely will if it’s a choice between her and Hurricane Fly.

He’s also unlikely to abandon Quevega in her bid for further Cheltenham history in the Mares race which really only leaves one option and with Boston Bob running an absolute shocker in the Cleeve that leaves Mullins with no real contender for the World Hurdle too, so step forward Annie Power.

Champion Chase Preview - Festival Focus

Super Sprint - The defending champ can make it back to back wins if he arrives healthy 

Like last year the Champion Chase preview is undoubtedly going to be the briefest of my Festival Focus pieces because simply put if a healthy Sprinter Sacre turns up he wins doing handstands.

Obviously he’s not the sure thing he was last year having only raced once this year and lost his unbeaten record over fences, however there were of course mitigating circumstances.

Pulled up after only a handful of fences by Barry Geraghty the man who knows him like the back of his hand due to having not jumped with his usual exuberance, Sprinter Sacre was found after the race to be suffering from an irregular heartbeat, similar to what ailed the mighty Denman a few years back.

His future participation in any race was immediately called in to doubt but he was quite quickly announced to be healthy again and has been building up towards a tilt at retaining his Queen Mother crown ever since.

Champion Hurdle Preview - Festival Focus

Let's Make a Rendezvous - Melodic Rendezvous is the value call in the Champion Hurdle

This year’s Champion Hurdle looks a truly vintage renewal and has long looked like being the best race of the festival this year.

The problem with that though is that there is very little value left in the market for a race that has been prominent in everyone’s thoughts since last year’s festival drew to a close.

There was a strong changing of the guard vibe around the champion hurdling division at the start of this season but reigning two-time champion Hurricane Fly has shown he is not going to hand over his crown without a fight by beating his two main challengers from his base in Ireland already this season.

The Fly has never really received the recognition he deserves in my opinion and people will undoubtedly still underestimate him until he is eventually packed off in to retirement.

Cheltenham Gold Cup Preview - Festival Focus

Two Bob - Namesakes Boston Bob and last year's winner Bobs Worth are my two for the Gold Cup this year

It’s that time again, with just over eight weeks to go until the Cheltenham Festival my Festival Focus posts are back, tackling each of the Graded races in the build-up to the greatest show on turf.

This year rather than going through the races in order I’m going to tackle them as and when I solidify my thoughts on a certain race, so with that in mind first up for 2014 is the big one – the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

My ante-post punting has been somewhat of a disaster in the last twelve months but with many firms now going Non Runner No Bet on the main races at the festival you can now bet with the reassurance that should your horse not line up you will at least get your stake back.