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In the final Class 1 before Christmas, some of the best remaining hurdlers meet in the Long Walk at Ascot on Saturday, with Hereford, Newcastle and Wolverhampton also living on Sky Sports Racing.
2.25 Ascot – Strong Leader and The Wallpark beat the Grade 1 field
Last year Howden Long Walk Hurdle (2.25) seen cramp Defeat old favorites Paisley Park in a thrilling clash, but Fergal O’Brien’s seven-year-old faces even tougher competition 12 months later.
Olly Murphy’s Strong leader is considered the new frontrunner in the division after mastering the Liverpool Hurdle last season and returning with a win in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury last month.
The Wall Park, Perhaps Ireland’s next star, he has enjoyed a remarkable run since July, scoring four wins in a row, including when he surpassed 145 at Cheltenham in October. He enters a gifted society for the first time, but seems capable of more.
Crambo’s best hopes may lie with his fresh record, but he was well behind Strong Leader at Aintree in April.
Was third that day Hiddenvalley Lake for Henry De Bromhead, during Kateira (Dan Skelton), Blueking d’Oroux (Paul Nicholls) and Shoot first (Charles Byrnes) certainly cannot be dismissed. Beauport, Botox has And Eagle Tooth Complete the field.
Crambo and Paisley Park compete in the 2023 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot
3.00 Ascot – Top class chasers Trelawne and Victtorino meet
The three miles Howden Silver Cup Handicap Chase (3.00) looks to be a competitive one and features the defending champions Victorino.
The Venetia Williams runner is just 1lb heavier in the weights than last year and will be keen to compete under Charlie Deutsch after finishing an excellent third at the Coral Gold Cup.
The one trained by Kim Bailey Trelawne Has a great seasonal showing when he saw off Iroko to land a Graduation Chase at Haydock and rates a major threat in this move to handicapping company.
The Changing Man ran a tough race in his last start when he finished second in the Rehearsal Chase in Newcastle and is aiming for his first pursuit success under Sam Twiston-Davies.
Victtorino and Charlie Deutsch were on their way to Silver Cup success at Ascot last year
3.35 Ascot – Be Aware & Dysart Enos meet again
A hard-fought renewal of what is valuable Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle (3.35) shows the second and third from the Greatwood at Cheltenham last month.
Dan Skeltons Be aware chased Burdett Road home when he finished second on this occasion and this well-behaved five-year-old is the pick despite having gained 7lb at the weights.
Dysart Enos enjoyed a fabulous novice campaign, winning all three starts and running with credit behind Be Aware at Cheltenham. The expectation is that she will improve through this experience, and so deviating from this 4 pound higher mark must be taken seriously.
Also worth mentioning is the winner of the Scottish hurdles championship favor and luck and Paul Nicholls’ unbeaten four-year-old Cabral Du Mathan.
Dystart Enos (right) chases home down Burdett Road in Greatwood
Watch all the races from Ascot, Hereford, Newcastle and Wolverhampton live on Sky Sports Racing on Saturday 21st December
