'I think it's going to be hard to beat Olly's horse first time out' - can Langer Dan deny Strong Leader in Long Distance Hurdle?

This is a match-up between two of the hottest teams in town who are both operating at a 25 per cent strike rate this term. Olly Murphy and Sean Bowen are represented by the favourite Strong Leader, while brothers Dan and Harry Skelton run Langer Dan.

Bowen and Skelton are at the head of the jockeys' championship and this could be considered an early season six-pointer because the race is likely to boil down to a match between their mounts.

Bowen has always got a good tune out of Strong Leader. The seven-year-old has form figures of 11192021 when ridden by Bowen and he was on board for the gelding’s finest hour when landing the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree last season.

That made it back-to-back career-best Racing Post Ratings for Strong Leader, and a peak performance of 159 marked him down as a major force in the staying division this season. He bids to confirm that impression on Friday.

His Grade 1 penalty means he has to concede 2lb to Langer Dan, who also has a career-best RPR of 159 achieved at Aintree. The only difference is that Langer Dan's run came over two and a half miles, when beaten a nose and a short head by Impaire Et Passe and Bob Olinger in the Aintree Hurdle.

Langer Dan was further behind Impaire Et Passe when second over a furlong and a half further at Sandown on his final start last season and has no form over this far. The majority of his best runs have also been in the spring, but we may find out on Friday whether that was by design or not.

It should be a fascinating clash between them, but Strong Leader looks the more progressive.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

Will anyone be strong enough to beat Leader?

Olly Murphy hopes the Long Distance Hurdle will be a precursor to more triumphs at the highest level for Strong Leader.

The seven-year-old was an impressive four-and-a-half-length winner of the Liverpool Hurdle in April, and Murphy is hopeful the 2lb penalty for that success will not be a burden on his comeback.

Strong Leader (white cap): broke his Grade 1 duck at the Grand National meeting in AprilCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Murphy said: "He's in good form and it's great to get him started again. He's carrying a penalty but he's still very progressive and this looks a good starting point.

"We'll get this run and the first half of the season out of the way first to see where we stand, but we'd love to get him back to Aintree and all those other big staying hurdle contests."

An immediate return to the top table is on the agenda for Strong Leader should he pass his Long Distance Hurdle test.

Murphy added: "Hopefully we can go for the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot after this and he can keep going in the right way. He's only had two runs at three miles and done really well, but he still looks unexposed over the trip. Hopefully he can carry on where he left off."

What they say

Dan Skelton, trainer of Langer Dan
I think it's going to be hard to beat Olly's horse first time out but we've got to start somewhere. I've always said he's a better horse in the spring but it'll be interesting to see how he handles the trip.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Monmiral
He ran well here the other day on his return for a long way and he was always bound to improve for the run. On his best rating he's got a bit to find on the leading contenders, but it's a small field and they've got a long season ahead of them, whereas we could sneak this.

Deborah Cole, trainer of Flight Deck
He ran incredibly when third in this last year and we'll see if he can do that again. We know the flat, galloping track suits him and his last run at Newton Abbot was encouraging too. There's no pressure on us as he's already paid his way, but we hope he can put in another big run and pick up some nice prize-money.
Reporting by Matt Rennie