The Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle has seen some hugely exciting finishes in recent years. Ten runners are set to go to post for the 2024 renewal, and GG’s Joe Napier gives his verdict.
Taking the step up in class in his stride, Crambo gamely earned the 2023 Long Walk Hurdle verdict on the line over three-time winner Paisley Park.
STRONG LEADER
(Olly Murphy/Sean Bowen)
The new British heavyweight in the staying hurdle division, Strong Leader’s form has been revolutionised by stepping up to this 3m distance. He was third in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in January on his first attempt, but was given a tentative ride that day, and since fully being able to show his stamina, he has won twice in good style.
The first resulted in a debut Grade 1 victory at Aintree in April. That race was eminently winnable with a few favourites disappointing and others being absent, but he returned in fine fettle at Newbury in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle, conceding penalties all round but winning comfortably. He has the top level form in the book and is the one to beat, but could find life tougher against this field than in recent runs.
THE WALLPARK
(Gordon Elliott/Mark Walsh)
The revelation of the season for Gordon Elliott, The Wallpark will be making his first start in JP McManus’s colours having been bought after four successive victories have propelled him to this level. The six-year-old won off a mark of 129 at Kilbeggan in July, but has subsequently scored twice at Galway, and then most impressively at Cheltenham in October.
That was a Pertemps qualifier, but he won it off 145, and the form looks strong enough in most places. His new rating of 152 is awkward for handicap company, and he appears more than ready to tackle a Graded race in this sphere. There would be concerns about soft ground were the rain to slow conditions, but he is entitled to plenty of respect.
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CRAMBO
(Fergal O’Brien/Jonathan Burke)
The story of last year’s race, Crambo earned a first Grade 1 success despite only having been third in a handicap off a mark of 139 the start before. However, so eyecatching was his effort that day that he was well-fancied to score at Ascot, and so he did, narrowly denying Paisley Park a fourth win in the race by a short head.
Unfortunately for connections, the wheels came off later in the season, as he finished only ninth in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, then eighth, beaten 46 lengths, by Strong Leader at Aintree. That could not have been him at his best, and he usually goes well fresh, but there are now plenty of questions for him to answer.
SHOOT FIRST
(Charles Byrnes/Philip Byrnes)
Despite being the joint oldest in the field at eight years old, only one runner in the field has had fewer runs over obstacles than Shoot First. Charles Byrnes has trained some promising types in this sphere in recent seasons, but this son of Westerner has now won on both trips to Great Britain, including when springing a 22/1 upset at Haydock last time off what was comfortably a career high mark of 139, the same rating Crambo was only third off in the same race in 2023.
He clearly has a fair amount of ability, and was tenderly handled for some mid-division finishes in between victories. That Haydock win has substance though and if on a going day, he could well feature. A strong pace would benefit his hold-up tactics too, although this field is not chock full of front-runners.
THE FIELD
The least exposed runner in the field is Hiddenvalley Lake for Henry De Bromhead. He was third to Strong Leader at Aintree, which automatically puts him in the mix, but might ideally want a bog, and has not yet shown enough to suggest he will step forward significantly to win here.
The five-year-old Blueking d’Oroux was fifth in this a year ago before a promising fourth at Sandown in a strong running of the Grade 2 Select Hurdle. His runner-up effort over 2m3½f on return entitles him to respect, even if 3m still stretches his stamina.
On the other end of the spectrum, Botox Has has proven himself a thorough stayer of 3m for a long time over hurdles, while Beauport has been winning over even further over fences. The ability of Nigel Twiston-Davies’ charge over fences warrants respect back over timber.
Kateira’s mares allowance gives her a shout on her best handicap-winning form, albeit she still has a little bit to find, while the four-year-old Eagle Fang put in a career best in Ireland when third in the Lismullen Hurdle last time out. He is not without a place chance, though 3m this early in his career could be beyond him.
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Value Punts – Four Best Bets for Ascot on Saturday
Ascot’s Saturday card is the final big jumps meeting prior to Christmas. Matty Sutcliffe has analysed the form and come up with four top tips 2:25 Ascot – Howden Long Walk Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Crambo 11/2 1pt WIN + Beauport 33/1 0.5pt EW 3 places I think the form…
Thu 19 Dec 2024VERDICT
Strong Leader sets the standard, and it would be no surprise to see him rack up a hat-trick here, though his Graded successes have come in weak enough fields. With rain around to potentially soften the surface, SHOOT FIRST is an interesting alternative after his Haydock handicap success last time, in which he won off the same mark Crambo was only third off before winning here in 2023. Should the ground remain livelier, The Wallpark firmly enters calculations too given the run he is on, while Beauport is the most interesting of the outsiders reverting to hurdles.
- Shoot First
- The Wallpark
- Strong Leader
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