World Hurdle a wide open affair
 By
DAVID THORPE
The World Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival has been the preserve of
short-priced favourites from Baracouda to Inglis Dreyer in recent years
but 2006 will be different.
Inglis Dreyer won’t be running and Baracouda is now an 11-year-old
so the market for the race has an unusual fluidity.
The best Irish-trained chances appear to be the Tom Taafe-trained Emotional
Moment — a recent winner who should like the ground but has been
inadequate at the top level before — and the Mick Halford-trained
Golden Cross.
This fellow needs soft ground but if he gets it the general 10-1 price
will look good.
Johm Murtagh has his first Cheltenham festival ride. The filly Asian Maze
is perhaps the outstanding horse of the trio. Her recent second to Macs
Joy in the Deloitte Hurdle is far better than any rivals can muster. That
was her first run for a while and over a trip short of her best she may
represent each way prospects on the day.
JonJo O’Neill’s Fire Dragon had the assistance of a superb
Tony McCoy ride to win the Cleeve Hurdle — that defeat of Mighty
Man would leave Fire Dragon a serious contender for this race.
But Mighty Man suffered from bad luck in running on the day and is confidently
expected to overturn the two-length winning margin should they meet again.
Mighty Man is a serious proposition for this race and probably has a favourites
chance without being any great value but he will improve for the better
ground at the festival and is the selection.
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