Saturday, 29 January 2011

Mourad cements World Hurdle claims

Mourad cemented his position as Ireland's leading contender for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle when he blitzed his five rivals in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park yesterday.

Ridden by Paul Townend, the Willie Mullins-trained Mourad, who returned as 4/9 favourite, stormed clear at the last to defeat 25/1 outsider Moskova by six lengths.

Two-time winner Big Buck's remains a firm favourite for the World Hurdle, but Mourad was clipped to best-price 10/1 (Paddy Power) for the race.

Stan James, perhaps a little more impressed, offer only 8/1 on Mourad but are now offering the best-price available for Big Buck's at 4/6.

The firm's Charlie McCann said: "After Mourad's win in the Galmoy and with the progressive Grands Crus bidding to make the transition from handicapper to pattern-race performer in the Cleeve Hurdle [at Cheltenham] tomorrow, perhaps the World Hurdle is not the one-horse race some would have us believe."

Mourad, who was third to Zaynar in the 2009 Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, was having his third run over 3m and his record now reads two wins and one third.

Mullins, who had never won the Galmoy, said: "He seems to be improving and looks to be getting stronger with age. He did that on ground that I don't think he particularly likes and he'll be better on better ground.

"Paul was very cool on him. It looks like we are on track for the World Hurdle."

Meanwhile, Tony McCoy is looking forward to teaming up with Binocular in the Contenders Hurdle at Sandown next weekend ahead of his bid to retain his crown in the Stan James Champion Hurdle.

The 15-times champion jump jockey believes this season's renewal at the Cheltenham Festival is the best for many a year - and realises Nicky Henderson's charge will have to be at the top of his game if he is to record back-to-back wins in the big race.

He said: "I'm very much looking forward to it. I've won a Champion Hurdle on him, I love the horse and hopefully he can go back and win another one, but it won't be easy for him this time."

Binocular's preparation has gone well so far this winter, with the JP McManus-owned gelding following the same route as he did in the last campaign.

McCoy continued: "Cheltenham is getting close. Hopefully all the horses will get there in one piece.

"Binocular is a horse that won the Champion Hurdle last year. He's running in probably the best Champion Hurdle there has been for a long, long time.

"He's been pretty good since Kempton, touch wood. All is going well and the plan is to run him at Sandown before he goes to Cheltenham.

"He'll have run in the same three races (Fighting Fifth, Christmas Hurdle and Contenders Hurdle) he did before he won at Cheltenham last year. The plan is for him to go to Sandown and all being well he'll do that."

Binocular is currently best-price 3/1 (Bet365) for the Champion Hurdle.

Mourad is now clear second-favourite for the 2011 World Hurdle

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