The Daily Star Chief Tipster says Nicky Henderson holds the ace in the pack in Saturday’s big Grade One race at Ascot – the Long Walk Hurdle – although a 25-1 shot could reward each-way backers
IMPOSE TOI (2.25) can continue his surge to the top of the staying hurdle ranks in the Howden Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.
The five-year-old is tipped to deny Crambo a third straight victory in this Grade One heat.
Impose Toi made a seamless move into Graded company by winning a nice prize at Newbury recently when he nutted Strong Leader. The pair renew rivalry in a race with much more depth.
Impose Toi was dossing for much of that Grade Two contest and the race turned into a bit of a sprint, so I suspect there is much more to come from Nicky Henderson’s beast.
Strong Leader flopped in this contest last year and his trainer Olly Murphy admits he prefers left-handed tracks.
Honesty Policy should go off favourite and he is a lovely prospect. He won a Grade One at the Grand National meeting and was narrowly denied another top-level prize by Jasmin De Vaux at the Punchestown Festival.
The Gordon Elliott yard is in fine form with 16 winners in the past fortnight but his five-year-old may just need the run.
Potters Charm holds some appeal but the Twiston-Davies team also saddle Beauport who ran a blinder in this race last year and looks a fine each-way bet at 25-1.
Baracouda won this race four times and Jet Blue crosses the Channel from the David Cottin yard.
Harry Cobden is a notable booking for the six-year-old French raider although he would prefer much softer ground.
Colonel Mustard has an each-way squeak although it would be a surprise if the talented Altobelli relishes the extreme trip.
HELNWEIN (3.35) can give Alan King a pre-Christmas boost in the big handicap at Ascot.
The trainer has won the Ascot Rotary Club Hurdle twice with Raya Star and Tritonic.
And his strapping seven-year-old has a similar profile to that talented pair.
Helnwein produced a career best in the Greatwood Hurdle when chasing home Alexei, who he meets again today on 9lb better terms.
The selection was beaten six lengths at Cheltenham but that was his seasonal debut while Alexei was race fit. He looks overpriced at around the 12-1.
DEEP CAVE (3.00, nb) made a striking winning chasing debut at Bangor and looks a fine staying prospect for Christian Williams.
The seven-year-old, who arrived on the scene when taking a valuable Aintree hurdle in April, has a huge amount of scope and is thrown into class one company in the Howden Silver Cup.
He could make a mockery of his rating of 139 although it is a warm contest and his jumping will have to hold up as he fell twice over fences at Auteuil when trained in France.
Pic Roc, Blow Your Wad and Johnnywho are all major players.
BAD (1.50) has stacks of ability and I hope he decides to show it in the Howden Handicap Chase.
He appears more comfortable going right handed but did run with huge credit when seventh in the paddy Power Gold Cup last month. Trip and ground look ideal today for Ben Pauling’s quirky grey.
The ITV cameras are also at Haydock for two live races and MY SILVER LINING (2.05) could be cherry ripe for the Betfred Tommy Whittle Chase.
Emma Lavelle’s stayer has two runs under his belt and his rating of 120 is lower than when he won the Classic Chase at Warwick last year.
LA ZOUBIDA ( 2.40) has done everything right in two wins over hurdles and at 7-1 Nicky Richards’ youngster looks decent value in the Betfred “The Classic Bookmaker” Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
There are two all-weather cards and Billy Loughnane looks to be the man to follow at Wolverhampton.
SO ALEX (6.45 trb) is a rapid improver and has hit the line strongly in winning his last two races and he should get the better of Westcombe in what looks a solid reverse forecast.
FOLLOW YOUR HEART (7.15, nap) caught my beady eye when staying on late at Kempton. Five of his 11 career victories have come at Wolverhampton and Loughnane has been in the plate on four of them and back at his favourite track he should be spot on for this.
The young rider can clinch the hat-trick on the in-form DANDY KHAN (7.45).
Jason Heavey’s Saturday tips
ASCOT
12.40 Iroko
1.15 Buzz Iceclear
1.50 Bad
2.25 Impose Toi
3.00 Deep Cave (nb)
3.35 Helnwein
HAYDOCK
11.45 El Jefe
12.20 Lario
12.55 Irish Blaze
1.30 Sunnyvilla
2.05 My Silver Lining
2.40 La Zoubida
3.15 Gege Ville
HEREFORD
11.58 Buckna
12.28 Twistthenightaway
1.03 Johnny Boy
1.38 Ten Ten Twenty
2.13 Alfie’s Princess
2.48 Marsiac
3.23 Plan de Stan
WOLVERHAMPTON
4.05 Titian Blue
4.40 Kokoluna
5.15 Snaafy
5.45 Spartan Arrow
6.15 Upepo
6.45 So Alex (trb)
7.15 Follow Your Heart (Nap)
7.45 Dandy Khan
8.15 Magic Runner
NEWCASTLE
3.10 Prince Achille
3.47 Sands of Josepi
4.20 Lope Harswell
4.55 Beckon
5.30 Tribal Wisdom
6.00 Wyvern
6.30 Bajan Bandit
7.00 Spun To Gold