Coral Long Distance Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

1st

1

Champ

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Nicky Henderson

11/8 (Won)

Win: £2.38
Place: £1.40

Form: /1243- C

Last run: 230 days

W: 11st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 161

Form & Verdict

Didn't kick on last season after winning the Grade 1 Long Walk at Ascot (3m, good to soft) on his reappearance but he still managed a highly respectable fourth in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham and has an excellent record at Newbury; has won on good ground; big player on return to action.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
5th 2	15th Apr 2023 Good To Soft 3m 0f 149y Class 1	15:35 Aintree Champ 11st 10lb J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr T: Nicky Henderson	in touch with leaders, lost position after 6th, in touch with leaders when ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching last	7/1
3rd 1	26th Dec 2022 Soft 3m 0f 121y Class 1	12:45 Kempton Champ 11st 7lb J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr T: Nicky Henderson	disputed lead, led clearly after 2nd, not fluent 6th, ridden and hard pressed 2 out, hung left approaching last, soon headed	15/8
1st 1	25th Nov 2022 Good 3m 0f 52y Class 1	15:05 Newbury Champ 11st 8lb J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr T: Nicky Henderson	Didn't kick on last season after winning the Grade 1 Long Walk at Ascot (3m, good to soft) on his reappearance but he still managed a highly respectable fourth in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham and has an excellent record at Newbury; has won on good ground; big player on return to action.	11/8

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

5th

2

15th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

11st 10lb

in touch with leaders, lost position after 6th, in touch with leaders when ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching last

7/1

3rd

1

26th Dec 2022

Soft

3m 0f 121y

Class 1

11st 7lb

disputed lead, led clearly after 2nd, not fluent 6th, ridden and hard pressed 2 out, hung left approaching last, soon headed

15/8

1st

1

25th Nov 2022

Good

3m 0f 52y

Class 1

11st 8lb

Didn't kick on last season after winning the Grade 1 Long Walk at Ascot (3m, good to soft) on his reappearance but he still managed a highly respectable fourth in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham and has an excellent record at Newbury; has won on good ground; big player on return to action.

11/8

3rd

4

Thomas Darby

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

8/1

Form: 14P4-2 CD

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 153

Form & Verdict

Won this last year, when improving for his reappearance run in Wetherby Grade 2; 10l second to Proschema in that same Wetherby race last month and could pose more of a threat today, but it's a hotter race than 12 months ago and he'll need some of the others to underperform.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
1st 2	22nd Nov 2023 Heavy 3m 0f 0y Class 2	15:15 Warwick Thomas Darby 11st 11lb J: Sean Bowen T: Olly Murphy	prominent, led 4th	5/1
4th 2	13th Oct 2023 Good 2m 7f 131y Class 2	13:35 Chepstow Thomas Darby 11st 13lb J: Sean Bowen T: Olly Murphy	sweating	7/1
5th 5	14th Apr 2023 Good To Soft 3m 0f 210y Class 1	13:45 Aintree Thomas Darby 11st 7lb J: Sean Bowen T: Olly Murphy	Contrasting fortunes on first two chase starts in November 2019 and back over fences for first time since when winning four-runner handicap at Ayr (3m, soft) this February; this is much tougher but it was a very pleasing performance last time and he's entitled to respect in view of his classy hurdle form (including his third in 3m Grade 1 here in 2021 on good to soft).	14/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

1st

2

22nd Nov 2023

Heavy

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

11st 11lb

prominent, led 4th

5/1

4th

2

13th Oct 2023

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 2

11st 13lb

sweating

7/1

5th

5

14th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

11st 7lb

Contrasting fortunes on first two chase starts in November 2019 and back over fences for first time since when winning four-runner handicap at Ayr (3m, soft) this February; this is much tougher but it was a very pleasing performance last time and he's entitled to respect in view of his classy hurdle form (including his third in 3m Grade 1 here in 2021 on good to soft).

14/1

4th

6

Tea Clipper

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

25/1

Form: 444-23 BF

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict

Solid handicap hurdler in 2020-21 and he's evolved into a talented and consistent staying chaser, who has run well in defeat in some tough handicaps; however, he has something to find in this field now back over hurdles.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
2nd 2	24th Nov 2023 Good To Soft 2m 7f 180y Class 3	15:10 Ascot Tea Clipper 11st 13lb J: Stan Sheppard T: Tom Lacey	Losing run goes back 11 races to October 2021 but he's dropped down the weights and returned from a break with an encouraging second at Chepstow (2m7f, soft) last month; today's forecast better ground may well be a positive and he could be a contender.	4/1
2nd 7	14th Oct 2023 Good To Soft 2m 7f 131y Class 2	14:30 Chepstow Tea Clipper 11st 2lb J: Stan Sheppard T: Tom Lacey	Signed off with some below-par runs this spring and returns with a point to prove, but his excellent record at this meeting includes wins in 2020 and 2021 and a close second off 4lb higher in this race last year (good to firm); ground slower than good to soft would be a worry but, otherwise, he's one to consider.	5/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

2nd

2

24th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

11st 13lb

Losing run goes back 11 races to October 2021 but he's dropped down the weights and returned from a break with an encouraging second at Chepstow (2m7f, soft) last month; today's forecast better ground may well be a positive and he could be a contender.

4/1

2nd

7

14th Oct 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 2

11st 2lb

Signed off with some below-par runs this spring and returns with a point to prove, but his excellent record at this meeting includes wins in 2020 and 2021 and a close second off 4lb higher in this race last year (good to firm); ground slower than good to soft would be a worry but, otherwise, he's one to consider.

5/1

OUR TIP

2

Paisley Park

J: Aidan Coleman

T: Emma Lavelle

Form: 3313-5 CD

Last run: 211 days

W: 11st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 160

Form & Verdict

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer
(1)	29th Jan 2023 1m 0f 0y	13:50 Turffontein Paisley Park 8st 6lb J: C Habib T: S G Tarry
(1)	29th Dec 2022 0m 7f 55y	14:05 Vaal Paisley Park 9st 6lb J: C Habib T: S G Tarry
(22)	10th Dec 2022 0m 7f 82y	13:35 Vaal Paisley Park 8st 11lb J: C Habib T: S G Tarry

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

(1)

29th Jan 2023

1m 0f 0y

8st 6lb

(1)

29th Dec 2022

0m 7f 55y

9st 6lb

(22)

10th Dec 2022

0m 7f 82y

8st 11lb

3

T: Dan Skelton

3/1

Form: 2F-371 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 154

Form & Verdict

Posted a career-best when easily winning a Grade 2 at Wetherby (3m, good to soft) last month, with Thomas Darby 10l back in second; also effective on good ground; had the benefit of a recent run last time and now faces classier opposition, but he was certainly impressive and has to be considered.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
8	15th Apr 2023 Good To Soft 3m 0f 149y Class 1	15:35 Aintree Proschema 11st 10lb J: Harry Skelton T: Dan Skelton	held up in rear, some headway after 10th, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up before 3 out	25/1
4th 3	26th Feb 2023 Good 2m 3f 49y Class 1	14:30 Fontwell Proschema 11st 10lb J: Harry Skelton T: Dan Skelton	held up in last, mistake 1st, headway after 7th, shaken up when slightly hampered before 2 out, outpaced approaching last, ridden and weakened gradually run-in	6/1
3	25th Nov 2022 Good 3m 0f 52y Class 1	15:05 Newbury Proschema 11st 8lb J: Harry Skelton T: Dan Skelton	Posted a career-best when easily winning a Grade 2 at Wetherby (3m, good to soft) last month, with Thomas Darby 10l back in second; also effective on good ground; had the benefit of a recent run last time and now faces classier opposition, but he was certainly impressive and has to be considered.	3/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

8

15th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

11st 10lb

held up in rear, some headway after 10th, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up before 3 out

25/1

4th

3

26th Feb 2023

Good

2m 3f 49y

Class 1

11st 10lb

held up in last, mistake 1st, headway after 7th, shaken up when slightly hampered before 2 out, outpaced approaching last, ridden and weakened gradually run-in

6/1

3

25th Nov 2022

Good

3m 0f 52y

Class 1

11st 8lb

Posted a career-best when easily winning a Grade 2 at Wetherby (3m, good to soft) last month, with Thomas Darby 10l back in second; also effective on good ground; had the benefit of a recent run last time and now faces classier opposition, but he was certainly impressive and has to be considered.

3/1

5

Dashel Drasher

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jeremy Scott

8/1

Form: 312P-1 C

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict

2m5f Grade 1 chase winner who won a 2m4f handicap hurdle off top weight here last December; untested at this trip but it's worth a go and he's entitled to respect in receipt of 6lb from his main rivals; showed his wellbeing when winning conditions hurdle on recent reappearance at Aintree.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
1st 2	1st Dec 2023 Good To Soft 3m 0f 52y Class 1	15:00 Newbury Dashel Drasher 11st 2lb J: Rex Dingle T: Jeremy Scott	Below best in last two appearances but that's out of character; very consistent (over fences/hurdles) for most of his career and may well bounce back; produced his peak RPR in this sphere when second in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham (3m, soft) last season; good chance on that form.	7/2
3rd 3	4th Nov 2023 Soft 3m 0f 26y Class 1	14:25 Wetherby Dashel Drasher 11st 2lb J: Rex Dingle T: Jeremy Scott	led, faced challenge when mistake 2 out, headed approaching last, weakened run-in	2/1
6th 3	15th Apr 2023 Good To Soft 3m 0f 149y Class 1	15:35 Aintree Dashel Drasher 11st 10lb J: Rex Dingle T: Jeremy Scott	raced in second, ridden after 3 out, soon short of room and lost second, weakened approaching last	8/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

1st

2

1st Dec 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 52y

Class 1

11st 2lb

Below best in last two appearances but that's out of character; very consistent (over fences/hurdles) for most of his career and may well bounce back; produced his peak RPR in this sphere when second in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham (3m, soft) last season; good chance on that form.

7/2

3rd

3

4th Nov 2023

Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 1

11st 2lb