Long Distance Hurdle Guide 2021

Cheltenham Festival heroine in 2019 and the leading staying hurdler that season, who went seven races unbeaten in the 2018/19 season for the great owner Andrew Gemmell is looking to get back to form and win this coming Friday in a race that he won back in 2019.

He has been a mixed bag recently since his Cleeve Hurdle win in January 2020, running six times and only winning once in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in December 2020.

He showed his true staying powers to just prevail ahead of Thyme Hill, but did slightly disappoint in the Stayers Hurdle at the Festival in 2021 and pulling up at Aintree in April after a few issues which were reported from the trainer.

He had a good comeback run at Wetherby in October, finishing third out of eight runners only beaten by just over four lengths.

The rider said he needed the run to blow the cobwebs away and was a bit flatter than usual (He usually does hit a few flat spots in the race) but this was slightly more than usual, making the team confident he will come on wonders for the run.

He wears Cheekpieces for the first time in the race so here’s hoping this can help with that flat spot and keep his mind on the task at hand.

Leading stayer in 2018/19, decent come back run to blow the cobwebs away for this season but does need to bounce back to the winning way, leading player on previous form.

Star mare for the Paul Webber yard who does get the mares weight allowance to Paisley Park (7lb allowance) and beat him last time out at Wetherby.

She was brilliant that day in the Grade 2 Bet365 Hurdle jumping very well and pulled away at the finish to win going away.

Her form first time out isn’t great (Form figures - 757) so the fact she won that race last time out is great news and shows she has improved a lot over the summer.

With the mare’s allowance and good to soft ground in her favour she could be hard to beat in this if Paisley Park is a no show, but she seems to be a horse who doesn’t put two good runs together, so chances would be taken on her.

Big winner in the Grade 2 at Wetherby last time out, beat Paisley Park and has a 7lb mares’ allowance, big chance.

A horse who was tried over fences at the early part of last season but unfortunately that didn’t work out, Olly Murphy was quick to revert him back over to the smaller obstacles where he clearly shows his best form.

He is a three-time winner over hurdles with a Grade 3 win to his name in January last year at Ascot but has not won since them (Form figures 333034) So has run consistent races in top graded races recently, including a fantastic third place in the Grade 1 Ryanair Stayers Hurdle at Aintree in April.

The race fell apart slightly that day and he was well beaten by five lengths, but still ran a cracking race all the same.

He will need to show a bit more than he has and step up his form to another level to win this race against Graded winning rivals.

Brilliant thirdrd place in Grade 1 last season but hasn’t won in six races and hasn’t poetically participated in same grade races up against some class rivals.

Might be best watched.

The only Irish Raider in the race who has a big following who will be getting behind her for this.

A Cheltenham Festival winner last season in the Pertemps final, she was electric that day winning by a brilliant 5 lengths going away, she certainly has come on leaps and bounds in the hands of Paul Nolan.

She was a cool winner last time out for the first start of the new season in the Listed Mares Hurdle at Limerick where she won by just under 2 lengths, not particularly jumping to fluently but got the job done.

She is another horse in the race with a hefty mares allowance on Paisley Park (9lb allowance) but the form in behind her last two runs is nothing to shout home about, although she won those runs nicely.

Since that not one horse in behind has won or ran a decent race which makes you question the form or whether she’s good enough to win this, only time will tell, but she is a very game mare who will be suited be the trip and conditions.

Last time out winner who has a decent 9lb mares’ allowance and is suited by trip and conditions.

Player.

Another Cheltenham Festival heroine in the field for this, with the 2020 Stayers Hurdle winner at a large price, when the race did arguably fall part with the main protagonists not running to form.

But take nothing away from Lisnagar Oscar and Rebecca Curtis at all, he is a Grade 1 winner with some good horses in behind and obviously has the talent in his locker.

But since his Stayers Hurdle victory he has struggled slightly, although placing in a Grade 2 at Haydock in February this year, he is yet to win since that fine day in March last year, running in some winnable races.

He has had the pipe opener this season when well beaten at Ascot at the start of the month, therefore that will bring him on to be fit and ready for this, but he is very unpredictable and can’t be backed with confidence.

Stayers Hurdle winner in 2020, but hasn’t won since then, up in class from his seasonal reappearance third and must step up to win this. Others preferred.

Another rare Nicky Henderson runner who is the outsider of the field, and he probably deserves to be so.

He has been well beaten in Graded races at the back end of the season and has only won in bumpers or lower-class/listed hurdle and chase races, so has a to find a fair bit form wise to find with the other runners being graded horses.

But has won before so knows how to get his head in front when crossing the line and trainer knows how to get one ready for a big run, but probably does prefer a bit more cut in the ground (Wins have come on Soft or Heavy recently).

Doesn’t look to have the graded class the other runners have; biggest career win was a listed race at Cheltenham last November.

So will be best watched in this.