THE World Hurdle picture was cloudy before last weekend, with 10/1 and more available about every conceivable contender, and the weekend’s events served only to cloud the picture further still.

Cole Harden and Whisper, both high in ante-post lists, were both beaten by Thistlecrack in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury last Saturday, which brings Colin Tizzard’s horse into the (cloudy) picture and leaves the two beaten horses with a little more to prove now than appeared to be the case before Saturday.

Saphir Du Rheu was beaten in the Hennessy later on the day, which didn’t really have had any material influence on the World Hurdle market. That was until Tuesday, when Paul Nicholls said that he would be re-directing Andy Stewart’s horse back to the smaller obstacles, à la Big Buck’s, with the World Hurdle as his objective, not the Gold Cup.

Then, when Arctic Fire won the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse last Sunday, people started to say, well he would only be stepping up by another four furlongs in trip, and doesn’t Willie Mullins have enough two-mile hurdlers?

Interestingly, not many seemed to notice the quality of the run that Alpha Des Obeaux put up in finishing second to Arctic Fire.

A five-year-old who has raced just seven times over hurdles and who will surely improve for a step back up in trip, it is surprising that Mouse Morris’ horse is quoted in the World Hurdle betting by just one of the major firms. Clarity will be here soon, honest.