The final Grade One before Christmas sees some of the top staying hurdlers clash in the Long Walk at Ascot on Saturday, with Hereford, Newcastle and Wolverhampton also all live on Sky Sports Racing.
2.25 Ascot – Strong Leader & The Wallpark headline Grade 1 field
Last year’s Howden Long Walk Hurdle (2.25) saw Crambo get the better of old favourite Paisley Park in a thrilling tussle, but Fergal O’Brien’s seven-year-old now looks to face an even tougher contest 12 months on.
Olly Murphy’s Strong Leader is very much seen as the new leader in this division after landing last season’s Liverpool Hurdle and returning with victory in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury last month.
The Wallpark, perhaps Ireland’s next staying star, has been on a remarkable run since July, winning four in a row including when defying a mark of 145 at Cheltenham in October. He steps up into graded company for the first-time but looks capable of better.
Crambo’s best hopes could lie with his record when fresh, but he was a long way behind Strong Leader at Aintree in April.
Third that day was Hiddenvalley Lake for Henry De Bromhead, while Kateira (Dan Skelton), Blueking d’Oroux (Paul Nicholls) and Shoot First (Charles Byrnes) certainly can’t be dismissed. Beauport, Botox Has and Eagle Fang complete the field.
Crambo and Paisley Park battle it out in the 2023 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot
3.00 Ascot – Classy chasers Trelawne & Victtorino clash
The three-mile Howden Silver Cup Handicap Chase (3.00) looks a competitive contest and features defending champion Victtorino.
Venetia Williams’ runner is just 1lb higher in the weights than last year and, having finished an excellent third in the Coral Gold Cup, will be fancied to follow up under Charlie Deutsch.
The Kim Bailey-trained Trelawne made a super seasonal reappearance when seeing off Iroko to land a Graduation Chase at Haydock and rates a huge danger on this switch to handicap company.
The Changing Man ran a cracking race in defeat when runner-up in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle on his last start and seeks a first chase success under Sam Twiston-Davies.
Victtorino and Charlie Deutsch on their way to Silver Cup success at Ascot last year
3.35 Ascot – Be Aware & Dysart Enos meet again
A fiercely competitive renewal of the valuable Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle (3.35) features the second and third from the Greatwood at Cheltenham last month.
Dan Skelton’s Be Aware chased home Burdett Road when runner-up on that occassion and this lightly-raced five-year-old is the pick despite a 7lb hike in the weights.
Dysart Enos enjoyed a fabulous novice campaign, winning all three starts and ran with credit behind Be Aware at Cheltenham. Expected to improve for that experience, she must be taken seriously off this 4lb higher mark.
Others to note include Scottish Champion Hurdle victor Favour And Fortune and Paul Nicholls’ unbeaten four-year-old Kabral Du Mathan.
Dystart Enos (right) chases home Burdett Road in the Greatwood
Watch every race from Ascot, Hereford, Newcastle and Wolverhampton all live on Sky Sports Racing on Saturday, December 21