This big, strong chasing type made all the running and kept going powerfully to go clear in the very soft ground.

It looks like Rule The World is completely recovered from the fractured hip he sustained last season and he looks a real threat to everything in the World Hurdle. The caveat is that on two occasions, once against Zaidpour and the other time against The New One, he’s been done for a turn of foot in the closing stages. He’s going to need a strong gallop or soft ground to counteract his lack of acceleration in the big race.