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14:25 Ascot

Saturday 23 December 2023

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Howden Long Walk Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 5m 59.41s

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Selected odds by:

Botox Has^p⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: G & J Moore| OR: 152| D

9/1

Landed valuable big-field 3m Haydock handicap hurdle last season and enhanced a good record fresh when adding a West Yorkshire Hurdle to his CV at Wetherby 7 weeks ago, edging ahead on the run-in and holding on gamely by a length from Red Risk. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 1/2174-1

Champ²⁵²

11/2

Very talented hurdler/chaser who dug deep to fend off Paisley Park on reappearance last term. Third to same rival in this corresponding event (held at Kempton) next time and disappointed at Aintree 8 months ago. Won this in 2021 and respected given positive record fresh (has had another wind op).

Form: 243/135-

Crambo^t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 142| C

5/1

Dual bumper winner who took his hurdle record to 4-6 in 2½m Aintree handicap on reappearance in October. Left the impression that the handicapper still hasn't got his measure when a fast-finishing third at Haydock (24.3f, good to soft) 4 weeks ago and he's earnt another crack at this level.

Form: P117-13

Dashel Drasher²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 159| BF| C| D

17/2

Tough and likeable sort who ran stormers when second in the Relkeel, Cleeve and Stayers' Hurdles (all Cheltenham) last season. Stepped up significantly on his reappearance run when narrowly denying Paisley Park in Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury earlier this month and this veteran needs considering.

Form: 2226-31

Goshen¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 149| C

33/1

Quirky sort but he's very smart at his best and took the Coral Hurdle at this track last November. Below form in his bid to defend his crown in that corresponding event last month and again failed to figure in rearranged Fighting Fifth at Sandown last time. Remains easily opposable.

Form: 2352-44

Gowel Road²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: G Sheehan| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR: 141| C

10/1

Very useful hurdler in 2021/22. Easily won a small-field course handicap chase in October 2022 and having been off 13 months, did more than enough to believe his ability is intact when fourth in big-field handicap hurdle at Haydock (24.3f, good to soft) 4 weeks ago. Big outsider in this company.

Form: 327/21-4

Paisley Park^t²²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 157| CD

6/1

Gained a third win this last year (held at Kempton) and ran a cracker after 9 months off when going down by a head to Dashel Drasher in Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury earlier this month. He may be rising 12 but there's every chance he can add a fourth Long Walk Hurdle to his collection.

Form: 5/2137-2

Red Risk⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 147

25/1

Won twice back hurdling in 2022 and left his effort in France back in summer well behind when runner-up to Botox Has in West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby 7 weeks ago. 1 of 2 for Paul Nicholls and likely to come up short at this level.

Form: 0120-62

Blueking D'oroux²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 148| C

9/1

Returned with a cosy success in 2m novice at Cheltenham in October and posted a borderline smart effort when following up in a relatively weak field for the Coral Hurdle at this course (19.3f, good) 4 weeks ago. Tough ask having a first crack at 3m.

Form: P912-11

West Balboa⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 143

3/1

Low-mileage mare who has yet to finish out of the first two. Signed off last season by landing a valuable big-field handicap upped to 24.7f at the Grand National meeting and picked up where she'd left off when landing 3-runner minor event there (20f, heavy) 6 weeks ago. Very interesting runner.

Form: 12/211-1

Forecasts

West Balboa (3/1), Crambo (5/1), Champ (11/2), Paisley Park (6/1), Dashel Drasher (17/2), Blueking D'oroux (9/1), Botox Has (9/1), Gowel Road (10/1), Red Risk (25/1), Goshen (33/1)

The staying hurdle ranks are pretty threadbare at the moment but if there's an up-and-comer it could be in the shape of CRAMBO, who caught the eye with his fast-finishing third in a big-field handicap at Haydock 4 weeks ago and, with the services of experienced pilot Johnny Burke enlisted, Fergal O'Brien's 6-y-o can make it third time lucky dining at the top table. Veterans Paisley Park (bidding for a fourth success in this), Dashel Drasher and the returning Champ head up the opposition.