Long Walk Hurdle 2025 Preview – Runners Guide for Ascot Grade 1

As the highlight from the Ascot Christmas races, the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle of 2025 attracts an intriguing field of 11 runners to the Berkshire track on Saturday, 20 December (2:25pm GMT). As the only other top-level tests for staying hurdlers in the UK before the Cheltenham Festival, this feature contest influences the markets.

Joining last year’s winner Crambo in the field is the re-opposing third Beauport. Both horses head for Ascot, yet are ironically trained locally to Cheltenham by Fergal O’Brien and the Twiston-Davies family respectively. The latter stable also saddles Potters Charm, and they’re not the only yard with double representation in the line-up either.

Olly Murphy has a couple of runners in Strong Leader and Gwennie May Boy. Nicky Henderson does the same in the Long Walk Hurdle of 2025, courtesy of Impose Toi and Doddiethegreat. The former is one of two owned by the mighty JP McManus. Also sporting his famous green and gold hooped silks is Irish raider Honesty Policy for the powerful Gordon Elliott yard.

Colonel Mustard provides further Irish representation here, but he’s also the oldest in the line-up. Harry Fry takes Ascot specialist Altobelli back to his happy hunting ground over this longer trip now. There’s even a French horse declared to come over in Jet Blue. This international flavour gives the traders behind Cheltenham betting sites plenty to ponder with pricing this race up.

If you want to know more about all the runners heading to Ascot, then you’ve come to the right place. Our horse racing experts have put together a guide packed full of essential information and biographical details about those competing for Grade 1 honours. Read all about these horses below…

Long Walk Hurdle 2025 Runners Guide

1. Altobelli

Fifth in the Ascot Hurdle behind Potters Charm, but home in front of Gwennie May Boy and Crambo on reappearance. Genuine course specialist with form figures of 23115 here. This longer trip asks new questions of him, yet he’s by the same sire as Gaelic Warrior so should stay. Stable had the winner of this in 2016 with Unowhatimeanharry.

2. Beauport

Better known as a long-distance steeplechaser, but third in the Long Walk Hurdle 12 months ago when only headed halfway up the run-in and beaten a length-and-a-half by Crambo. Beaten favourite in Haydock’s Rendlesham Hurdle when bested by Gwennie May Boy before a heavily eased twelfth in the Grand National. Should strip fitter for reappearance fourth over fences at the November Meeting of Cheltenham races latest, but vulnerable to younger legs at this trip. Stable second string to Potters Charm for yard who won this twice in the 1990s.

3. Colonel Mustard

Placed on both previous visits here when runner-up to Jonbon in the last ever edition of the Kennel Gate and third behind Lucky Place in last season’s Ascot Hurdle. So often the bridesmaid, including third in the County Hurdle and fifths in the Champion Hurdle and Coral Cup, he gained a deserved victory over The Yellow Clay in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle at Navan last time. On a hat-trick, but this popular veteran will find things tougher now.

4. Crambo

Winner of this each of the last two seasons seeking a hat-trick to match Big Buck’s and Reve De Sivola. Lost unbeaten record here last time out on reappearance when a tailed off last of eight in the Ascot Hurdle. Coming back here for another successful defence of his crown looks sure to be his seasonal target, however, and stepping back up in distance can only help.

5. Doddiethegreat

Finally delivered on the potential he showed flashes of previously when prevailing in the Pertemps Final during the Cheltenham Festival schedule on St Patrick’s Thursday. Stable companion Jeriko Du Reponet turned the form around at Punchestown, however, and twice behind Strong Leader in Grade 2 contests at Wetherby and Newbury this autumn since. Despite not seeing either race out, he continues creeping up the handicap, so looks a difficult horse to place. Something to find at this level, though. Stable second string to Impose Toi

6. Gwennie May Boy

Left Dan Skelton for his current yard over the summer. Defeated Beauport in style conceding 4lb to him at Haydock in February. Not reached the same heights in graded company since, though. Only beat Crambo home in the Ascot Hurdle here on stable debut and reappearance. Must take a big step forward in an even deeper race. One of the Long Walk Hurdle outsiders. Stable second string to Strong Leader.

7. Honesty Policy

Youngest in the line-up and got up to land a two-and-a-half miles Grade 1 novice hurdle during the Aintree Grand National Festival in the spring. Held just half-a-length by Albert Bartlett Cheltenham winner Jasmin De Vaux when runner-up over this trip at Punchestown since. Now makes his reappearance. Open to the most progress and never out of the first two in six starts including a Point-to-Point, but a big ask to come here conceding race fitness all-round to his elders. Powerful owner has another string to his bow.

8. Impose Toi

Neck runner-up in the Betfair Exchange Trophy on this card two years ago. Has since reinvented himself as a stayer, improving on placed efforts in the Coral Cup Cheltenham Festival results and at Punchestown by landing an Aintree Pertemps Qualifier and the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury latest. Meets re-opposing runner-up Strong Leader off 6lb worse terms in the Long Walk Hurdle of 2025, but won snugly. Definitely improved, but needs delivering late. Stable has won this twice including with Champ in 2021. Yard also runs Doddiethegreat.

9. Jet Blue

French raider who landed a Grade 2 at the December Meeting last season. Lacked a recent run when down the field in the Albert Bartlett during the Festival. Much-improved second to old rival Losange Bleu, the major force on his side of the channel, in an Auteuil Grade 1 off level weights latest compared to his reappearance. Eye-catching spare ride for his jockey.

10. Potters Charm

One of the best novice hurdlers in the UK last season. Three wins on the Cheltenham race cards, although his third under a penalty on Festival Trials Day came after finishing second past the post on the day with the first failing a drugs test. Fifth in a red-hot renewal of the Baring Bingham at the big meeting, not much has gone right since. Tries the Long Walk Hurdle trip for just the second time after falling at Wetherby on reappearance. Best of those re-opposing when third in the Ascot Hurdle here latest. Yard also runs Beauport.

11. Strong Leader

Trailed in last of ten when sent off a warm favourite for this 12 months ago. Landed a Grade 2 under a penalty around Wetherby on reappearance, but unable to repeat the feat when runner-up to Impose Toi at Newbury latest. Now meets that one off 6lb better terms. Suspicion is he’s a “flat track bully”, so the undulations of Ascot may not suit him. Definitely in the mix on ratings, though. Yard also runs Gwennie May Boy.

Long Walk Hurdle 2025 Shortlist & Verdict

While it’s tempting to suggest Crambo, his poor performance in the Ascot Hurdle sticks in the memory. It might be that a hat-trick is beyond him. The one who has definitely improved, but will need to do so again is IMPOSE TOI. Highly consistent and battle-hardened from handicaps, he could still have more to offer as a stayer for Henderson.

McManus also has Honesty Policy, but he’s a young horse and this might come too soon for him before his sixth birthday. Strong Leader has something to prove on undulating tracks, so there might be some each-way value in Jet Blue over from France. Potters Charm has most to find on official figures, but definitely looks worth another go over this longer trip.

Jamie Clark

Senior sports editor

Jamie Clark has been covering the Cheltenham Festival for over a decade, firstly during his time as the Sports Editor of Coral bookmakers. His father and godfather ran a trackside bookie's pitch at Market Rasen for many years, so horse racing is in his blood. Very much a specialist in the sport, Jamie is our go-to expert on all things Cheltenham.

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