Stuart Williams takes an in-depth look at the runners for the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.
Long Walk Hurdle Preview & Runners Guide
This race has been won by many top class stayers and has often been a happy hunting ground for repeat winners. Indeed, François Doumen's top class operator Baracouda landed this Grade 1 prize on no fewer than four occasions between 2000 and 2004, while Paul Nicholls' winning machine Big Buck's landed a hat-trick of victories between 2009 and 2011.
The popular Reve De Sivola took over the mantle with 3 successive triumphs between 2012 and 2014, and this occurrence obviously bodes well for Thistlecrack, Paisley Park and The World End, who were successful in 2015, 2018 and 2019 respectively.
Since the turn of the century, five horses have landed this contest en route to success in the Grade 1 Stayers Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival the following March, including the aforementioned Baracouda, Big Bucks, Thistlecrack and Paisley Park. That number rises to six when taking into account the full history of this race, with those six winners landing 8 Stayers Hurdle's (Big Bucks did the double 3 times) between them. Therefore this race is clearly a good marker for the staying hurdle division.
It's fair to say that this year's renewal is well and truly on a par, if not superior, to many of those that have gone before it, as the former champ Paisley Park, who appeared to be unbeatable prior to his seventh placed finish at Cheltenham in March when suffering from an irregular heartbeat, will look to avenge his defeat against the up-and-coming Thyme Hill in last month's Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury.
The presence of the rapidly progressive Main Fact, who landed his ninth consecutive race in the ultra-competitive Grade 3 Betfair Exchange Stayers Handicap Hurdle at Haydock last month, adds further intrigue to this contest. While 2019 Mares' Hurdle heroine Roksana, who landed the Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle on her seasonal reappearance at Wetherby, is also a fascinating contender.
Clearly this race has plenty of depth and it's worth taking a closer look at each of the ten contenders whom will go to post at 2.25 on Saturday.
Long Walk Hurdle Runners
Paisley Park
Emma Lavelle's staying star carried all before him in this division prior to his seventh placed finish in the Stayers Hurdle this spring, when found to have an irregular heartbeat. Connections will naturally be hopeful that that incident was a mere bump in an otherwise smooth road for the 2019 champion, and they will undoubtedly be encouraged by his return to action at Newbury when staying on stoutly behind the up-and-coming Thyme Hill.
Unbeaten in seven starts prior to March, Paisley Park enjoyed a racecourse gallop at Newbury last month and there is every chance that he will improve further for his seasonal reappearance, which will hopefully have banished any mental scars that may have plagued him since Cheltenham and indeed restored any confidence that may have been lost on that occasion.
It is worth remembering that the classy son of Oscar gave reigning Stayers Hurdle hero Lisnagar Oscar 3lbs and a four-and-a-half-lengths beating in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle over the same course and distance in January, therefore it is, arguably, fair to presume that he would have successfully defended his crown in March had he not suffered the issue with his heart.
However, alas, things are rarely that simple in the wonderful world of horse racing where it often pays to side with fact over fiction. That said, we know that Paisley Park is a top class racehorse when free form injury or indeed illness, and his return to action at Newbury suggested that he could easily bounce back this winter.
Aidan Coleman's charge plugged on gamely last month and will enjoy a 3lbs pull at the weights with his conquerer on Saturday. The former champion is 5lbs clear of his nearest rival on official ratings and is therefore arguably the one that they all have to beat.
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Thyme Hill
Thyme Hill announced his arrival in this division with an impressive success in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury last month, when accounting for former champion stayer Paisley Park somewhat cosily after pulling hard in the early stages of the race.
Philip Hobbs' six-year-old enjoyed a fantastic novice hurdle campaign that saw him collect the Grade 2 Persian War Novices' Hurdle on debut, the Grade 2 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in November, and the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury in December prior to placing fourth in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle under somewhat frustrating circumstances.
Richard Johnson's mount was forced to race wide throughout before having the door closed in his face not once, but twice, at the business end of the race. Indeed, Thyme Hill remained widest off all rounding the turn for home - therefore closest to the stand-side rail - yet ended up four wide on the run to the line, which is an indication of the traffic that ran into up the hill.
Thyme Hill travelled best of all until Paul Townend closed the door on eventual winner Monkfish, and he battled on gamely behind three high-class rivals who simply made their momentum count. That race is already working out very well as the first five home (obviously including Thyme Hill) were all victorious on their seasonal reappearances, and indeed hold lofty aspirations going forwards.
Thyme Hill travelled powerfully and jumped slickly on his return to action at Newbury and Richard Johnson didn't have to get serious with him in the closing stages. Clearly he is entitled to improve for that outing and he could prove a very tough nut to crack if in the same form on Saturday.
That last minute money had it right as THYME HILL wins a thrilling Long Distance Hurdle having gone off at 7/2.
— oddschecker Racing (@oddsRacing) November 27, 2020
Paisley Park and McFabulous back in second and third.
@RacingTV pic.twitter.com/Lfsic3D7PM
Roksana
2019 Mares' Hurdle heroine Roksana appeared to relish the 3 mile trip when comfortably landing the Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle on her seasonal reappearance at Wetherby. The runner-up on that occasion, Next Destination, won a novice chase next time out. While the third placed Kildisart ran a respectable race to place seventh in the Grade 3 Ladbrokes Trophy on his only subsequent outing to date. Therefore the form looks solid enough.
Dan Skelton's mare has always kept good company and her 7lbs mares allowance puts her right in the mix. Indeed, Roksana placed second behind both Santini in the 2018 Grade 1 Sefton Novices' Hurdle and If The Cap Fits in the 2019 Grade 1 Ryanair Hurdle on her two previous outings over 3 miles. Therefore she clearly gets the trip and remains unexposed after just three attempts.
Fifth of six in the 2019 Grade 2 Coral Hurdle on her only previous visit to Ascot, which is perhaps the only a slight negative, Roksana's last four victories have been achieved on testing ground and team Skelton remain in good form. Therefore this classy mare has plenty going for her.
Main Fact
The remarkable Main Fact will bid for a tenth successive victory following an impressive performance in the traditionally competitive Grade 3 Betfair Exchange Stayers Handicap Hurdle at Haydock last month, when beating fellow contender Third Wind by a widening two-and-three-quarter-lengths.
Six of those victories have been achieved over hurdles and the deeply progressive seven-year-old clearly relished the step-up to 3 miles when ploughing through the mud at Haydock, which clearly bodes well with this contest in mind.
Main Fact defied a mark of 147 on that occasion and is now rated just 11lbs inferior to Paisley Park. Clearly another big step forwards is necessary in a race of this nature. However, not many horses can string together such as sequence of successes and it would be foolish to underestimate David Pipe's winning machine on Saturday.
Younevercall
Younevercall was beaten a nose on his return to action following a 506 day absence and it is interesting that connections are aiming him at this Grade 1 prize, which is a clear indication that they feel that he retains all of the ability that he displayed prior to his lay-off.
Kim Bailey's charge could only place eighth behind Paisley Park in this contest in 2018, but did give the recently resurgent On The Blind Side a 9 lengths beating in the Grade 2 Select Hurdle on his very next start. Therefore he clearly possesses a good deal of ability and he remains lightly raced for his age.
Younevercall was attempting to concede 33lbs to the winner on his return to action at Kempton and it would be foolish to rule out any Kim Bailey trained horse given the stable's form so far this autumn. However, his record over 3 miles reads 728 and this is undoubtedly his sternest test to date. Therefore he looks up against it on Saturday.
The Worlds End
Last year's victor The Worlds End will attempt to double-up on his first outing for Olly Murphy, and he will also have a new jockey on his back in the form of Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
The battle-hardened nine-year-old made a successful seasonal reappearance in the Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle in October 2019, before placing third behind Paisley Park and Thistlecrack in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury. That set him up perfectly for his maiden Grade 1 success in this contest, which undoubtedly rates a career best effort.
However, thing's have gone less smoothly this term as The Worlds End was pulled-up on his seasonal reappearance at Auteuil in October and has also endured the upheaval of moving yards. Indeed, the Stowaway gelding also pulled-up on his final start last season and now has questions to answer.>
Thistlecrack
Thistlecrack only made it to the racetrack once last season when chasing home Paisley Park in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury in November, which clearly suggested that the fire still shone brightly. However, his subsequent absence is clearly no positive and it's hard to predict what he will be capable of on Saturday.
Undoubtedly one of the most talented horses of recent times during his peak, Colin Tizzard's twelve-year-old ran out a facile winner of this race in 2015 before landing the Stayers Hurdle later that season. He further confirmed his immense ability when landing the 2016 King George VI Chase as a novice. However, he has only made it to the racetrack seven times since that crowing achievement, without notching a single success.
Clearly connections feel that he still has something to offer on the racetrack and it's safe to presume that they will have him straight for this contest given both his age and his absence. However, it is hard to envisage him laying a glove on those towards the head of the market at this stage of his career.
The Jam Man
A runaway winner of the traditionally competitive Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan in November, The Jam Man could only place sixth in the Grade 3 Betfair Exchange Stayers' Handicap Hurdle at Haydock and was well held when placing ninth in the Grade 1 Stayers Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Ronan McNally's seven-year-old has been in fine form of late and could easily run better than the market would suggest. However, he has plenty to find on official ratings and is relatively easy to pass aside.
Third Wind
Fourth Behind subsequent Grade 2 winning hurdler Sire Du Berlais and subsequent Grade 1 winning chaser The Storyteller in the Pertemps Final in March, Hughie Morrison's progressive young stayer was unlucky to bump into the winning machine that is Main Fact when placing second in the Grade 3 Betfair Exchange Stayers' Handicap Hurdle at Haydock last month.
Naturally, this contest represents a far sterner test of Main Fact's credentials and, like many of his contemporaries, he will need to take a giant leap forwards in order to be competitive. However, he remains unexposed over staying trips and could easily outperform market expectations.
Portrush Ted
Portrush Ted made a successful seasonal reappearance in a competitive Pertemps Qualifier at Sandown earlier this month, improving his record to 5 wins from just 9 starts under rules.
Lightly raced for his age, the McNeil family owned eight-year-old was raised 5lbs to a mark of 144, which means that he still has upwards of a stone to find with many in this contest, which makes him hard to fancy.
Long Walk Hurdle Tips
The verdict
The rapidly progressive Main Fact is a fascinating contender on the back of his impressive success in the Grade 3 Betfair Exchange Stayers Handicap Hurdle at Haydock, and he is clearly open to further progression over staying trips. While Grade 1 winning mare Roksana is undoubtedly a very classy operator and boasts top class form on her three previous outings over this trip. She looked better than ever on her seasonal reappearance at Wetherby and her 7lbs mares allowance puts her firmly in the mix.
However, this could easily prove to be a re-match between last month's Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle winner and runner-up THYME HILL and Paisley Park, and while the latter shaped very encouragingly and is 3lbs better off at the weights, the former ran out a cosy winner on the day and is open to significant improvement this winter.
Philip Hobbs' exciting six-year-old was a top class novice last season and he overcame keenness to score a decisive victory under Richard Johnson last month, when travelling powerfully and jumping well throughout the 3 mile contest.
Thyme Hill is naturally entitled to improve for that outing, which could be fairly ominous for his nine rivals on Saturday. He has often displayed the gritty attitude required to develop into a top class staying performer, and he can take another step-up the ladder at Ascot this weekend.
Long Walk Hurdle Entries
- Main Fact
- Paisley Park
- Portrush Ted
- The Jam Man
- The Worlds End
- Third Wind
- Thistlecrack
- Thyme Hill
- Younevercall
- Roksana
declared for the Long Walk Hurdle:
— oddschecker Racing (@oddsRacing) December 17, 2020
Main Fact
Paisley Park
Portrush Ted
The Jam Man
The Worlds End
Third Wind
Thistlecrack
Thyme Hill
Younevercall
Roksana pic.twitter.com/m0WumOMpEX
