Why Take Note Of Stats?

In the most competitive races it often pays to take strong notice of the stats for previous winners. There is a reason a certain type of horse wins a race year after year and the World Hurdle is no exception. In this year’s World Hurdle we can start chucking horses out based on the stats on this page World Hurdle Stats.

This Year’s World Hurdle Hopefuls

We can’t see each horse’s final prep run yet which will be important but we can start ruling some horses out. The main contenders at this stage are:

Punchestowns – One of the few runners in this year’s event to fit the MUST HAVE stat for either not running in the previous year’s Festival or running in the World Hurdle or Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. He has won at Cheltenham, won both his starts this year and is likely to go to the Festival with three races on his back this season, winning at least half his starts.

Kasbah Bliss – Came second in last year’s World Hurdle which can be determined as a positive but has not run over jumps this season and has never won at Cheltenham in four starts which means he is probably playing for a minor role again if participating.

Blazing Bailey – Ran in last year’s World Hurdle but only came fourth which is a big negative. He has also not yet won over hurdles this season so has to be overlooked.

Big Bucks – Would be an unusual winner of the World Hurdle having taken in the Jewson Novices Handicap Chase at last year’s Festival. That is a negative in itself and finishing outside of the top two in that race is another negative. Has at least won a race this season and won at Cheltenham.

Fair Along – Fails the vital stat of having run in either the World Hurdle or Supreme Novices’ Hurdle if running at the previous year’s Festival. He has won this season and has a decent enough Cheltenham record (4 from 11) but is overlooked because of his Champion Chase run last year.

Mobaasher – Another who ran in the ‘wrong’ race last year, the Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle and has also not won yet this season in three attempts.

Duc De Regniere – Didn’t run at last year’s Festival but has failed to win in two attempts at Cheltenham which is somewhat a negative. Has won this season and another decent run before the World Hurdle would give him some chance at a big price.

So Who Do We Back?

Punchestowns looks a great bet for stats followers and even though he is favourite he still looks a good bet in a year that very few rivals meet anywhere near enough of the stats to be considered. Should win.

Several of the fancied horses such as Kasbah Bliss and Big Bucks will probably run well but don’t look half as solid as the favourite and one at a big price that could go well is Duc De Regniere who may fit some of the best stats depending on his next run.

Check Back Soon

I will revisit this after the final prep runs but it does look as though Punchestowns is an outstanding bet in this race and could be one of the bankers of the meeting. That is unlikely to change between now and the time this blog is updated but one or two other contenders might emerge between now and then based on the stats.

Share Your Thoughts With Us

Do you fancy one of the stats no hopers such as Blazing Bailey? If so make a case for it and let us know what you think. He may be one of the favourites (at time of writing) but we think he has no chance.

If you think we are wrong to hold stats for the World Hurdle in such high regard then reply to this blog and make a case for only considering form. Are there any bigger priced horses that are due to run in the World Hurdle that we haven’t considered that fit the stats perfectly? If there are then we want to know about it.