The Howden Long Walk Hurdle clearly favors HIDDENVALLEY LAKE (2.25), which is easy to detect. The Irish raider starts the Ascot Grade 1 Staying Hurdle Prize for the first time this season, which is fortunate for him because he seems to require a lot of time in between races. He placed third in the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree’s Grand National meeting to cap off the previous season.
There are reasons to believe that Henry de Bromhead’s hope can turn that form around, but he still has almost five lengths to catch up to the victor, Strong Leader. Strong Leader’s hold-up tactics that day was facilitated by the quick early pace, and Hiddenvalley Lake was pushed out when it came to the final hurdle.
My fancy is likewise the kind that gets better after only six hurdle starts. At 9-1, have two points each way. Four spots are being paid out by Sky Bet. Keeping up with the pace on Ascot’s 2m hurdles course is a significant advantage. STEEL ALLY (3.35) will be in the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle precisely there.
Before going all out to win at Haydock, Sam Thomas’ front-runner in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las in October chased home savvy stablemate Lump Sum. He continues to get better. At 14-1, have two points each way. Sky Bet will move up five spots.
The profile of REGAL BLUE (2.05) is all or nothing when it enters the Betfred Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock. In three of his last five starts, he has been pulled up, but he has won the other two. There have been good reasons for his poor performance, such as when he needed to make a comeback at Bangor the last time.
His victory on the demanding course at Haydock in February indicates that he like this course, and his performance against The Changing Man in March at Uttoxeter reads favorably. HALF TRACK (3.15) hasn’t exactly had a pleasant career path, but he is expensive to record his first victory in precisely three years.
He has a 1 point each-way at 10-1. Four days before Christmas in 2021, he defeated Nells Son, the eventual Grade 2 winner, although he has only ran nine races since. When he unseated his jockey at the first hurdle in October, his comeback from almost two years off the track didn’t go as planned. However, he ran a fantastic race on his second start, finishing third at Carlise behind the incredibly progressive Plaisir Des Flos and Mr. Hope Street.
There was nothing wrong with his recent second over 2m3f at Carlisle but there’s little doubt today’s 3m distance suits him better. Have 1pt each-way at 9-1. A couple of firms are going four places.
