'He's going to take an awful lot of beating' - Long Walk Hurdle quotes and insight

Strong Leader bids to enhance his claims as Britain’s leading staying hurdler for an Olly Murphy team that remains in red-hot form.

The lightly raced seven-year-old has thrived since being stepped up to three miles, finishing a close third in Cheltenham’s Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle before winning the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree.

He looked an improved model once again when making a successful Newbury reappearance in last month’s Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle, and Murphy believes Strong Leader has come on for that run.

“He’s in good form,” he said. “I certainly wouldn’t swap him, although it’s a competitive race. There will be no excuses.”

He added: “I know he hasn’t won right-handed, but I don’t see that as an issue. He boasts Grade 1-winning form at the trip and has pleased me since Newbury.”

Strong Leader (noseband): winner of the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury last timeCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Murphy believes it is the emphasis on stamina which has brought out the improvement in Strong Leader, winner of six of his 13 races.

“He was a talented novice at two miles, but it’s the longer trip which has made the difference,” he said. “He has never done anything wrong at this sort of distance.”

Murphy, currently third in the jump trainers’ championship behind Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls having accrued more than £750,000 in prize-money, is on record as saying he does not feel Strong Leader is ideally suited to Cheltenham.

Second favourite in the ante-post market for the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at a general 10-1, it will be interesting to see how the rest of Strong Leader’s season pans out if he justifies likely warm favouritism at Ascot and continues his march to the top.

Prolific McManus buy The Wallpark faces toughest test

Many punters are attracted by a string of 1s next to a horse’s name, and The Wallpark is likely to have plenty of supporters as he bids for a five-timer.

The Gordon Elliott-trained six-year-old steps up considerably in class after winning a Cheltenham handicap hurdle off a mark of 145 in October.

That stylish success over Gowel Road certainly caught the eye of JP McManus, and The Wallpark will carry the owner’s famous green and gold silks for the first time at Ascot.

Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus, said this week: “The Wallpark is an improving young horse who was very good at Cheltenham last time and we hope he can keep on improving. Let’s hope he’s lucky.”

The Wallpark has won seven of his ten starts since being sent to Elliott in the spring of 2023. “He’s just kept on improving since the summer and the more races he wins the more confidence he gets,” Elliott said. “He’s got a great attitude and stays well.

“This is a step up in grade so life will be harder, but it will be interesting to see how he copes with it.”

Crambo first-time-out record encourages O’Brien

Crambo, the short-head conqueror of Paisley Park in this race 12 months ago, missed his intended reappearance at Newbury last month owing to a dirty scope.

That doesn’t concern his trainer Fergal O’Brien, who points to Crambo’s outstanding first-time-out record, with a winning seasonal debut in each of his three campaigns.

O’Brien said: “He looks great and goes well first time out. I think Strong Leader is going to take an awful lot of beating, but we’ve got to turn up and try. He likes to be fresh, has done plenty of work, and I’m not worried about it from a fitness side at all.

“The one difference with him this year is that previously he's never really enjoyed jumping at home. He's always been very good in a race but this year when we've schooled him he's had a real appetite for it. There's a lot more zest with the jumping now.”

On official ratings, Crambo is rated just 2lb inferior to Strong Leader so if that improvement at home is reflected on the course, Ascot patrons could be in for a thrilling race.

What they say

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Blueking D’Oroux
He was only a four-year-old when finishing a creditable fifth in this race a year ago and was bang there until tiring going to the final flight. He’s much stronger now and ran a huge race at the weights, keeping on strongly when beaten only a length in the Ascot Hurdle a month ago. He’s come on for the outing and looks to have a decent each-way chance.

Blueking D'Oroux: has decent each-way chance according to trainer Paul NichollsCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Gary Moore, joint-trainer of Botox Has
He seems in good order but ideally could have done with softer ground. He ran okay in this race last year and has come on for his reappearance at Cheltenham. He’d have an each-way chance at a big price if it rained heavily.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Kateira
She won well at Kempton last time and before that a mistake two out probably cost her a win at Wetherby. She gets a bit of weight off the boys and the ground should suit so she goes there with an each-way chance.

Saturday previews:

1.50 Haydock: Iroko faces three formidable rivals from Ireland's top stables in intriguing graduation chase 

2.05 Haydock: 'He goes there with a massive chance' - which trainer expects a big run in the competitive Tommy Whittle Chase? 

3.00 Ascot: Can huge Coral Gold Cup eyecatcher Victtorino continue Venetia Williams' run of big Saturday winners? 

3.35 Ascot: 'It's a huge pot to play for and he's got his ideal conditions' - trainers on their Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle contenders 

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