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Andrew Lynch on board Voler la Vedette en route to winning the Hatton's Grace Hurdle. ©INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan
Cheltenham 2012

Voler la Vedette sets her sights on World domination

Colm Murphy’s Voler la Vedette is “more than likely” to compete against Big Buck’s in the Cheltenham World Hurdle, the trainer said yesterday.

VOLER LA VEDETTE looks set to skip an all-female tussle with Quevega at Cheltenham to take a shot at Big Buck’s World Hurdle crown.

The eight-year-old mare has three wins from four this season, including the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, and trainer Colm Murphy revealed yesterday that the three-mile feature is “more than likely” to be her Festival target.

Voler la Vedette had been expected to have one final prep run at Navan this Sunday, but connections have decided to skip that engagement and go straight to the Cotswolds next month.

“I’ve had a chat with the owners and we’ve decided she won’t run at the weekend,” Murphy said (see Press Association). “She’ll go straight to Cheltenham for the World Hurdle.

“We’ll just keep her ticking over now. She seems in great form and I’m very happy with her.”

Big Buck’s is currently the 4/7 favourite to win the World Hurdle for the fourth year running. A win at Cheltenham would be his 16th consecutive race without defeat, equalling Sir Ken’s record over hurdles set in the 1950s.

Willie Mullins’ Quevega (4/6 fav), who has not been seen since winning at Punchestown last May, is also seeking her fourth consecutive win in the David Nicholson’s Mares Hurdle.

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