JLT Hurdle Preview: Play it again Sam

Saturday’s JLT Hurdle – more commonly known as the Long Walk – has seen Big Buck’s and Reve de Sivola fall short of emulating Baracouda’s four wins in the race. Both failed, with Big Buck’s robbed of a fourth attempt by injury, and Reve de Sivola finding Thistlecrack too strong in 2015, before being left behind by the younger brigade of staying hurdlers a year later.

Going the Distance

One of those young bucks was Unowhatimeanharry, who won the 2016 renewal as an eight-year-old. Two years on, he looks in a better place than when only third last year, though it’s worth noting that the level he ran to when winning the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury last month was some way below the form he showed when chasing home Beer Goggles in the corresponding race 12 months earlier. Having said that, the addition of cheekpieces to the usual tongue strap appeared to give him more focus, and he’s respected once more here.

A great return to form from Unowhatimeanharry as he regains the Ladbrokes Long Distance Hurdle title that he won two years ago

Results  👉👉 https://t.co/7iJOPsvjqx pic.twitter.com/HHV9tawEZt

— Racing UK (@racing_uk) November 30, 2018

The Long Distance could be the key form line here, with Momella and The Mighty Don also amongst the 13 entries for Saturday’s race. Following a summer wind op/change of stables, Momella was in the process of running a career-best when she fell two out. She looked set to go close and, while she still had stamina to prove over this longer trip, she was shaping as if likely to be second at worst. The Mighty Don was fourth, never quite landing a blow having been held up, but he improved by 6 lb or so on his Cheltenham win in late-October.

Play it again Sam

Sam Spinner returns to defend his crown, having produced a career best to win this race by two and three quarter lengths from subsequent Aintree Hurdle winner L’Ami Serge 12 months ago.

A huge performance from Sam Spinner who wins the Long Walk Hurdle @Ascot on his first start in Grade One company.

Results ▶️ https://t.co/7iJOPsvjqx pic.twitter.com/ActVtpUYBh

— Racing UK (@racing_uk) December 23, 2017

Sam Spinner came into this race in much better form last year – a month after winning a Grade 3 handicap (the old Fixed Brush Hurdle) at Haydock by 17 lengths – but comes into Saturday’s race on the back of unseating his rider two out when well-held in the Long Distance last time. He wasn’t ridden with the sort of dash that characterised his best performances last winter, perhaps with the memory of last season’s reappearance when too keen in mind, but looks a leading contender if ridden more aggressively here. He also doesn’t have to carry a 6 lb penalty here.

Williams to win again?

On weight-adjusted ratings, Agrapart – a former stablemate of Reve de Sivola – has a similar chance to Sam Spinner. He won the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham (by three lengths from Wholestone) in 2017/18 and was faced with an insufficient test of stamina when a respectable fourth to the same rival in a minor event at Aintree on his return last month, staying on again late. His best form has come on soft/heavy going and he should have race/ground conditions much more in his favour here, though all of his hurdling wins have come when going left-handed.

Henderson contenders

The highly-regarded Call Me Lord won a two-mile handicap (by three and a quarter lengths from Our Merlin) and the 21.5f Select Hurdle (by 16 lengths from Lil Rockerfeller) at Sandown in 2017/18, also finishing second off a BHA mark of 152 in the Imperial Cup there in between. This would be a tough reappearance for the five-year-old, but he’s a horse of some potential, and is more likely to run in this than the valuable two-mile handicap hurdle on the card from a mark of 160. With more improvement to come, he’s respected, but with stamina to prove he looks a favourite to take on at around 2/1.

Stablemate Soul Emotion made an immediate impact after arriving from France last season, winning a brace of two and a half mile handicaps at Sandown, first from a BHA mark of 125, and then from 12 lb higher. He’s yet to race over this far, but stayed on well on both occasions, and is not one to take lightly if taking his chance. Top Notch made his reappearance last term over hurdles, but he’s much more likely to head to the King George VI Chase four days later than pitch up here.

If The Cap Fits…

If The Cap Fits was unbeaten in three novices in 2017/18, at Exeter, Bangor, and Kempton (by five lengths from Diese des Bieffes), and was a gallant second to Verdana Blue in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton on his return. It didn’t look likely for a long way, but he eventually landed the odds in the Coral Hurdle here last time, by one and a half lengths from Old Guard, still only fourth jumping the last but staying on to lead inside the final furlong. He remains with potential, but it’s worth remembering that connections nominated the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton as a possible next target following that win, and that his yard also has Unowhatimeanharry and Momella.

Best of the rest

Kim Bailey is enjoying a good season, as the graph below shows (remember you can access any trainer or jockey's form by clicking on their profile - find out more here), and one of his most impressive winners was Younevercall. He proved better than ever in first-time cheekpieces when readily winning a 13-runner handicap from a BHA mark of 144 at Kempton (by 10 lengths from Canyon City) last time, drawing clear two out.

Younevercall may be hard to place after a rise in the weights, but he has deserved a crack at better company, and is still unexposed after just eight starts having presumably not been the easiest to train.

The unexposed Paisley Park has shown smart form so far, winning a two-and-a-half-mile handicap at Aintree in October, and showing a good attitude to follow up in the Betfair Stayers' Handicap Hurdle at Haydock (by half a length from Shades of Midnight) last time, overcoming a pace bias on the latter occasion. He remains open to further improvement, but may still chance his arm in handicap company having only been raised up 5 lb for that most recent win. The list of entries is completed by Garo de Juilley, the Silver Trophy winner who appeared undone by a rise in the weights last time, and West Approach, whose recent chase form doesn’t bode well considering even his best hurdling form isn’t enough to trouble the principals here.

Conclusion

It’s a little disconcerting that he lacked a bit of sparkle at Newbury, but the make-up of this race should suit last year’s winner Sam Spinner down to the ground and he’s worth supporting at 8/1 to make all under more positive tactics. The returning Call Me Lord and Unowhatimeanharry, as the market suggests, are the biggest dangers.

Recommended bet:

Back Sam Spinner to win Saturday's JLT Hurdle at Ascot at 8/1