Mourad asked to take on the world

Mourad (right)

Pretenders to the crown of champion staying hurdler, currently held by Big Buck’s, may be thin on the ground.

That much is proved by the fact that only five are prepared to take on the Paul Nicholls horse in the Long Walk Hurdle at Newbury on Wednesday. But Mourad put himself in with a shout when he won the Grade Two woodiesdiy.com Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Ridden patiently by Paul Townend, he stalked the leader, Powerstation, until taking up the running after the last and won easily enough to suggest that he would deserve to run in the race. Mourad is trained by Willie Mullins so, in theory he could be chosen by Ruby Walsh, when it comes to the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival although he still seems some way short of the standard set by Big Buck’s.

“We were wondering would he stay the trip on this ground. But he did so we’re very pleased,” Mullins said, adding that the World Hurdle would now be the target. “We’ll have to plot a plan to get from here to there and whether I run him once or twice I’m not sure.”

So Young may well have earned his ticket to the Festival as well. A winner three times on the Flat when trained in France, So Young galloped away from his field in the Madigans Maiden Hurdle, beating Harpsy Cord by 16 lengths.

“He’s never been flashy at home but everything we asked him he did, and did it slowly, so I thought a two-and-a-half mile race would suit him,” Mullins said. “Paul had him jumping nicely and he just kept galloping the whole way to the line.

“I don’t think it’s the strongest maiden hurdle that’s going to be run here this week but he did do it very well. We’ll just up him in grade, probably keep him at this trip and I’m hoping that he might be good enough to go across the water.”

The Grade One Fort Leney Novices’ Chase may not have produced a star but there was no doubting the resolution of Bostons Angel as he repelled all challengers to win by three-quarters of a length from Quiro de la Roque.

Paul Wheeler

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