The Weekend Winners workforce had been in festive spirits as they stay up for the ultimate Grade One earlier than Christmas, the Lengthy Stroll Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday, reside on Sky Sports activities Racing.
Final 12 months’s winner Crambo is on the comeback path after disappointing runs within the Spring and having missed an meant return at Newbury final month.
The brand new star of the staying division in Britain is undoubtedly Olly Murphy’s Sturdy Chief, confirming his promise with victory within the Lengthy Distance Hurdle. Added to the combo is Gordon Elliott’s upwardly cell The Wallpark, who arrives on a five-timer.
Host Kate Tracey…
“It is unoriginal however I am with the favorite Sturdy Chief in a very aggressive race.
“It is good to see as a result of this was beginning to really feel like a seniors race however now we have really acquired fairly younger horses going.
“Sturdy Chief is the perfect wanting horse in coaching, he is an absolute beast.
“He does have his own way of jumping. He’s very much a typical son of Passing Glance so is very straight-backed but he’s figured out a way that works for himself.
“The Newbury win final time most likely wasn’t as much as the type of his Liverpool Hurdle win however he gave away a penalty there.”
Sean Bowen celebrates as Sturdy Chief lands a Grade One prize at Aintree
Attheraces.com’s Declan Rix…
“I’m with you on Strong Leader. I think it’s a race with plenty of question marks.
“The Wallpark is clearly taking a giant step up in school into Grade One firm and Shoot First had a very robust race within the floor at Haydock. Crambo has had an interrupted prep and Blueking d’Oroux did not appear to remain on this race final 12 months.
“Hiddenvalley Lake is probably good enough to win but this is his first start of the season and he can be a little bit gassy.
“I simply thought Sturdy Chief was the horse to beat. He is actually come into his personal since going as much as three miles.”
Crambo and Paisley Park battle it out within the 2023 Lengthy Stroll Hurdle at Ascot
BetVictor’s Sam Boswell…
“I like Strong Leader and of the pair at the top of the betting I’d sooner be with him over The Wallpark but Christmas is a time for forgiveness and I’m going to forgive Crambo.
“He received this race 12 months in the past beating Paisley Park and we had been all getting actually enthusiastic about Fergal O’Brien going for the Stayers’ Hurdle with this horse.
“What transpired with the two runs at Cheltenham and Aintree just didn’t really seem to produce what he could do.
“The perspective he confirmed successful this final 12 months was actually good and he was nonetheless studying his craft at that time.
“His record first time out is really good and I’m not going to let that interrupted prep put me off. It’s probably last chance saloon for me and this horse but, at a track he’s proven at, I’m excited to see what he can do.”
