Ladbrokes World Hurdle Tips Bets

Defending champion Big Buck’s is one of 24 possibles for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 18 following the latest forfeit stage.

The Paul Nicholls-trained star Big Bucks (4/7 with Ladbrokes) is odds-on to land back-to-back victories after showing he is as good as ever with wins in the Long Distance Hurdle and Long Walk Hurdle this winter.

Some have argued that the biggest danger to Big Buck’s in the World Hurdle is Ruby Walsh getting injured. Together they are quite simply brilliant. They have won eight of nine races as a partnership and all six over hurdles. Andy Stewart’s seven-year-old has been a revelation since reverting to hurdles and there’s no doubt that he’s a complicated ride. Ruby has mastered the stalking approach with him and you had to feel for Barry Geraghty and Punchestowns last season when they were outgunned twice up the Cheltenham hill.

Big Buck’s runs in snatchesand although many in-running punters will be aware of this, it wouldn’t be a surprise to seehis price go odds-against if Ruby is pushing along at the top of the hill. That normally acts as the horse’s wake-up call and he will undoubtedly trade very short up the home straight. He hasome decent animals to contend with this year, though, so it may also be worth looking to get out at a really short price.

Tidal Bay (7/1 with Stan James), the 2008 Arkle hero, made a triumphant return to the smaller obstacles in the Cleeve Hurdle and could be the successor to Inglis Drever for the Graham Wylie/Howard Johnson team.

The former Arkle winner had been struggling over fences before bouncing back to form in theCleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham – a race which has been won by the subsequent World Hurdlewinner for the past two years. He was held upthat day and was actually looking in trouble turning in, but found plenty for pressure, albeit receiving a 4lb pull in the weights from runner-up Time For Rupert. The way he travels suggests he will be another who will trade big in-running, so look to get with Howard Johnson’s runner as soon as he looks in trouble.

Other hopefuls include Alan King’s Karabak (8/1 with 888Sport) and Sentry Duty (14/1 with Ladbrokes) from the Nicky Henderson stable.

Karabak is a very decent yardstick and there is absolutely no disgrace in finishingsecond to Zaynar and Big Buck’s in his two outings this season, especially with the stable under a cloud at those times.

He probably wasn’t given the best of rides in the Ballymore last year and AP McCoy will surely keep him up slightly closer with the pace this time. With Big Buck’s normally taking a while to warm up to his task, a la Inglis Drever, there’s every chance that the strong travelling Karabak will trade artificially short and it would be surprising if he managed to hold off Paul Nicholls’ star hurdler.

Pick of eight Irish possibles is the Mouse Morris-trained War Of Attrition (33/1) with Stan James), winner of the Gold Cup in 2006.

World Hurdle Tip

• Back Karabak @ 8/1 with 888Sport