Psychic Insight

Derren Brown’s recent attempt to bring his supposed psychic powers to bear on the sport of horse racing was high on hype but disappointingly low on substance.

However, the Festival blog is able to read at least one person’s mind as, in line with our prediction, Pricewise nominated Special Envoy as his best ante post bet for the World Hurdle.

Here are a few pointers to look out for when trying to pick the winner of the Ladbrokes sponsored highlight of day 3:

* In the last 15 years, the previous year’s champion (currently Inglis Drever) has only returned twice and in doing so has finished first and second.

* No five year old has ever won (a negative for Gaspara).

* The record of the current Long Walk Hurdle winner (Lough Derg) is 059162212.

* In recent seasons, four winners contested that season’s Long Walk Hurdle, where their finishing positions were 7121.

* Ten of the last ten winners were between 6 and 8 years old, and had had between 6 and 16 career starts over hurdles.

* Nine out of the last ten winners had not been out of the first four all season, and had had no more than 4 runs.

* Eight out of the last ten winners had finished first or second last time out.

* Seven out of the last ten winners had won or been placed at the Festival before.

* No horse has ever won the race three times.

* Crimson Embers is the only horse older than 9 ever to win the race.

If you follow the trends, the first four home in this year’s World Hurdle may look something like this:

1st Wichita Lineman
2nd Blazing Bailey
3rd Inglis Drever
4th Hardy Eustace

To win a pair of Club Enclosure tickets to see this race at the Festival click here.