Ascot is the place to be on Saturday, hosting the Premier Raceday meeting in the UK. The Gr1 Howden Long Walk Hurdle (16h25) headlines a quality six-race card, with track conditions posted as good to soft.
The Olly Murphy trained Strong Leader is officially the highest-rated runner in a field of ten staying hurdlers, and with a successful return at Newbury last month, looks the one they all have to beat.
Ascot Racecourse plays hosts to the Gr1 Howden Long Walk Hurdle on Saturday (Pic – Ascot Racecourse on FB)
Placed at the Cheltenham Festival, the likeable gelding rounded off his season with Group 1 glory at Aintree in the Liverpool Hurdle.
Irish raider The Wallpark has won his last four starts for the Gordon Elliott stable, but now takes a massive step up in class, while last year’s winner Crambo has a bit to prove on his return after disappointing a couple of times at the end of last season.
Later, defending champ Victtorino could follow up for his inform trainer Venetia Williams in the Howden Silver Cup Handicap Chase (17h00).
The six-year-old is only 1lb higher in the weights than when winning this lucrative prize last year, one of two course and distance victories.
A staying-on third in the Coral Gold Cup was noteworthy being his seasonal return, and with the 9lbs he receives from Trelawne, he is the selection.
Bottom-weight The Changing Man ran a fair race when second at Newcastle last month. He looks the danger receiving 8lbs.
The Howden Graduation Chase (15h50) has attracted only four runners, but still looks competitive.
Run over an extended two and a half miles, pace and tactics are sure to play their part, with the vote going to the high-class Iroko.
The Cheltenham Festival-winning hurdler endured a stop-start first season over fences but showed when winning on his chasing debut at Warwick and then finishing second in an Aintree Group 1 in the spring that he is a quality sort.
He did not do too much wrong when narrowly beaten by Trelawne in a similar race to this on his return at Haydock four weeks ago and should now go one better.
He takes on three Irish raiders and James Du Berlais, from the Willie Mullins yard, looks the biggest threat.
