The staying hurdlers take centre stage at Ascot this weekend with the 2025 edition of the Long Walk Hurdle. Since making its debut in 1965, the race has grown to become one of the key stepping stones towards the Stayers’ Hurdle, as well as being an excellent prize to win in its own right.
With this year’s renewal edging ever closer, 13 runners remain in contention for the £125,000 contest, including Irish and French challengers, and a British runner bidding to join the list of Long Walk hat-trick heroes.
O’Brien Star Eying Win Number Three
Of the thirteen remaining entries, only one boasts a win over this course and distance to its name. That horse is the 2023 and 2024 Long Walk Hurdle winner, Crambo. Hailing from the yard of Fergal O’Brien, this son of Saddler Maker has long been held in high regard.
While not the most consistent performer, Crambo has largely backed up that opinion. Successful in six of 15 career outings, he has saved his best efforts for this track. Boasting overall Ascot form figures of 1-1-1-8, he mastered Paisley Park by a short head in a vintage 2023 edition of this race. Returning in 2024, he successfully defended his crown when fending off the challenge of Henry de Bromhead’s Hiddenvalley Lake.
Crambo’s form over the track and trip is a big factor in his favour. However, he needs to bounce back from his comeback effort at Ascot in November. While the 2m3½f trip was on the short side and the ground was quicker than ideal, a 48-length last of eight effort still goes down as disappointing. He will need a big step forward if he is to add his name to the list of runners with three or more wins:
- Baracouda (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004) – Francois Doumen’s dual Stayers’ Hurdle winner is the most successful horse in the history of this race. However, he didn’t manage to win three in a row, with a second to Deano’s Beano in 2002, splitting his four victories
- Big Buck’s (2009, 2010, 2011) – Untouchable in the staying division between 2009 and 2012, Paul Nicholls’ four-time Stayers’ Hurdle champ became the first horse to win three Long Walk Hurdles in a row
- Reve De Sivola (2012, 2013, 2014) – Having waited 46 years for the first horse to win three on the spin, the second arrived immediately. One of the greatest horses of Nick Williams’ training career, Reve De Sivola won ten times under rules, including six Grade 1s
- Paisley Park (2018, 2020, 2022) – Trained by Emma Lavelle and owned by Andrew Gemmell, Paisley Park’s thrilling style made him one of the most popular hurdlers of the modern era. The 2019 Stayers’ Hurdle winner claimed the final success of his career when running away with the 2022 edition of this
JP McManus Duo Head the Market
As owner of former winners Baracouda, Unowhatimeanharry, and Champ, JP McManus has tasted his share of Long Walk Hurdle success. The market suggests he has every chance of adding to his haul in 2025. Currently vying for favouritism, both Honesty Policy and Impose Toi both carry the famous green and gold silks.
If the Gordon Elliott-trained Honesty Policy is to prevail, he must break a surprising trend. Ahead of the 2025 edition, no Irish-trained runner has ever come home in front. This would represent the five-year-old’s first outing in open company, but he made an excellent impression during his novice campaign. Never outside the first two in five starts under rules, he broke his Grade 1 duck in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree.
Stepped up to three miles on his final start at the Punchestown Festival, he found only the Willie Mullins runner Jasmin De Vaux too good. That effort placed him among the most promising staying novices in training, and he rates as an intriguing contender.
The second JP McManus runner in the field is the Nicky Henderson-trained Impose Toi. Now seven years old, this son of It’s Gino was kept to handicap company during his first full season in open company. Beginning on a mark of 134, he won only once but progressed to a mark of 148. In two starts this season, he already looks to have taken another step forward. Much too good in an Aintree handicap on his seasonal return, he then ran down Strong Leader to claim a first Graded success in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury last time. Taking his first crack at Grade 1 company, this improving sort should not be dismissed lightly.
With Strong Leader, French raider Jet Blue, and the highly regarded Potters Charm also among the entries, Crambo will need to rediscover his A-game to come out on top. Find out how he gets on in the 2:25 at Ascot on Saturday afternoon.