World Hurdle main feature of St.Patrick´s day card

After yesterday´s bonanza for the Irish trainers, who won the first 6 races, there are high hopes of more Irish successes at Cheltenham on St. Patrick´s Day. However we would be very surprised if the main feature, the World Hurdle over 3 miles at 16.20 CET crosses the Irish Sea. This race is surely reserved for Big Bucks (Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh), easily the best staying hurdler of recent years, who won this race both in 2009 and 2010. In fact Big Bucks has won his last 10 races and already beaten most of today´s opponents. One newcomer who might test him is the greatly improved Grands Crus (David Pipe/Tom Scudamore), who has won all his 3 starts this season very easily, two of them this CD. However a strict reading of the form still leaves him with a lot to find if he is trouble Big Bucks.

Both Pipe and Nicholls saddle one more runner, so that tactics may play a role, but Zaynar (Nicky Henderson/ Barry Geraghty) looks the likeliest danger from the home brigade. He has been a bit disappointing, but is now stepped up dramatically in distance.Still the Irish will be rooting for another win and Willie Mullins with 2 runners, Fiveforthree (David Casey) and Mourad (Pail Townend) seems to have their best hopes. It has been a poor meeting for favourites so far, but Big Bucks is one favourite who looks almost impregnable.