IT’S going to be very interesting to see how The Wallpark fares in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot today, pitched into Grade 1 competition for the first time.

He has earned his shot at it too. He is so progressive. From winning a handicap hurdle at Kilbeggan in July off a handicap rating of 129, Gordon Elliott’s horse won a listed handicap hurdle at the Galway Festival off a rating of 137, stepped up to two miles and six and a half furlongs, after which his trainer ventured that he could be a Pertemps horse.

He went back to Galway in September, and he won again, he did well to win a three-horse race in which he had to make his own running early on.

Then he went for a Pertemps Qualifier at Cheltenham’s November meeting, and he won once more, four in a row, leaving the impression that he had more in hand than the bare winning margin.

The problem with all the wins was that the handicapper noted all of them too and raised him to a mark of 152, 23lb higher than the mark off which he won at Kilbeggan during the summer.

That’s a high rating for a Pertemps horse. It puts him onto the coat-tails of the top staying hurdlers, so you can see why connections are pitching him into a Grade 1 contest now.

Only one Pertemps Final winner since the turn of the millennium was rated higher than 150: Sire Du Berlais, who was, coincidentally, trained by Gordon Elliott and owned by J.P. McManus.

Because The Wallpark is now owned by J.P. McManus too, the Ask gelding will race in the green and gold South Liberties colours today for the first time, and he goes into the race with a big chance.

Strong Leader sets a good standard, Olly Murphy’s horse was a really progressive staying hurdler last season.

Second behind Blueking D’Oroux in the Ascot Hurdle in November last season, he kept on well to take third place in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in January and, after skipping the Cheltenham Festival, he went to Aintree, where he had run such a big race in the Top Novices’ Hurdle as a novice, and won the Liverpool Hurdle.

He proved that he could operate away from Aintree too when he won the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on his debut this season. He has a big chance, but he is short.

Danger to all

Crambo would be a danger to all if he could return to the level of performance that he put up in this race last year. He was disappointing at Cheltenham and Aintree after that last season, but there has to be a chance that the return to Ascot could allow him leave those runs behind him.

Shoot First, winner in 2022 of the Cheltenham Pertemps Qualifier that The Wallpark won two months ago, sprang a surprise in the Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at Haydock last time and while Charles Byrnes’ horse has plenty to find on ratings, has the potential to improve again, while Henry de Bromhead’s Boyne Hurdle winner Hiddenvalley Lake doesn’t have much to find with Strong Leader on their running in the Liverpool Hurdle.

It’s a fascinating race but, everything into the mix, and The Wallpark is the most interesting contender.

He has to make the jump now from handicap company into a Grade 1 race, but he is on a really nice upward trajectory, and he retains plenty of potential to progress as a staying hurdler. This test could suit him well, and his chance may have been under-rated by the market.

Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle

Our Champ’s chance in the concluding Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle may have been under-rated by the market too, as it often is.

Chris Gordon’s horse was brave in landing a Class 2 contest over today’s course and distance in early November. He travelled well through his race, he travelled like the most likely winner into the home straight and he battled on well under his whipless rider to just get home from a talented mare in Break My Soul.

He was beaten in the Gerry Feilden Hurdle at Newbury last time off a 5lb higher mark, but he ran well, and he ran even better than the bare form of the run suggests.

He was in a group of three that broke away from the main body of the field at a strong pace and, while the other two members of the triumvirate faded to finish ninth and 13th respectively, Our Champ kept on admirably to finish third, behind two horses who had been ridden patiently.

Another 1lb hike take him up to a mark of 137, but that is a mark that is more than workable. He obviously goes well at Ascot, over today’s course and distance, and good to soft ground is ideal for him.

He can travel well just behind the pace and, if he can get into a nice even rhythm for Freddie Gordon in that type of position today, he could out-run his odds by a fair way.

His rider is good value for his 5lb claim, and he should go into the day brimming with confidence too, having ridden a double at Ascot yesterday. Our Champ is his only ride today.

Recommended

The Wallpark, 2.25 Ascot,

9/2 (generally), 1 point win

Our Champ, 3.35 Ascot,

16/1 (generally), 1 point win