The Long Walk Hurdle (Saturday 23 December) is one of the recognised trials for the Stayers Hurdle, which takes place at the Cheltenham Festival in March. It is run over 3 miles and 97 yards at Ascot, and has been won by horses that went on to win the Stayers Hurdle, such as Baracouda, My Way De Solzen, Big Bucks, and Thistlecrack.
The Long Walk Hurdle 2017 10-Year-Trends
- One 5-year-old, one 6-year-old, four 7-year-olds, three 8-year-olds and one 9-year-old have won
- Nick Williams has trained 3 of the last 10 winners
- Richard Johnson has ridden 2 of the last 10 winners
- Lough Derg was the longest-priced winner at 14/1
- Big Bucks was the shortest-priced winner at 2/13
- 6 of the last 10 favourites have won
- Winners have been rated from 142 to 174
Long Walk Hurdle 2017 Horse Racing Preview
Unowhatimeanharry
Decisive winner of the 2016 renewal by 4½ lengths from Lil Rockerfeller, who won last month’s Long Distance Hurdle here at Ascot, and they were well clear of the rest. However, he was surprisingly beaten by Beer Goggles at Newbury last time, be it he was conceding that improving rival 6lb.
L’ami Serge
Done nothing in this country to suggest he’s going to be suited to racing at 3-miles, but has won over further in France. Trainer Nicky Henderson has indicated he’ll be aimed at the Stayers Hurdle this year though, but he has been beaten by both Lil Rockefeller and Agrapart.
Lil Rockerfeller
2 wins, 2 seconds and a third from 5 runs at Ascot highlight the 6-year-old’s liking for the course, and he did manage to finish in front of Unowhatimeanharry at Cheltenham last season. However, whilst he’s is 3-years younger than last year’s winner, and has more room for improvement, he has those aforementioned 4½ lengths to make up on last year’s form.
Thomas Campbell
Finished first and second in two novice hurdles over 2-miles here at Ascot, and has looked to improve massively for the step-up to 3-miles on his last two starts, winning handicaps off marks of 138 and 148. The form of those races has not been boosted massively since though, but may still not have reached the ceiling of his potential at this trip.
Sam Spinner
Massively impressive winner of a handicap hurdle at Haydock over nearly 3-miles, however the form of that race has taken a few knocks since. Could have more improvement to come, having finished first or second in all of his 8 starts, but needs to find that improvement to figure against proven grade-1 horses.
Agrapart
Gave 4lb and a beating to L’ami Serge over 2½ miles at Cheltenham last season, but beaten 34-lengths in the Stayers Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Only 6 though, so could have improvement to come, and represents trainer Nick Williams.
Our Long Walk Hurdle 2017 Preview & Betting Tip: Unowhatimeanharry
Thomas Campbell, Sam Spinner and Agrapart could all still have plenty of improvement to come, but will need to find it, whilst L’ami Serge remains a bit of an enigma having been tried over a variety of trips. Therefore, as the formbook suggests, this could turn into another battle between Unowhatimeanharry and Lil Rockerfeller – with the former fancied to become yet another horse to win this race more than once.