Long Walk Hurdle Tips & Odds

The history of the Long Walk Hurdle

First run in 1965, the Long Walk Hurdle was initially a handicap race before becoming a conditions contest in 1975 and eventually a Grade One in 1990, as it has remained ever since.

The race tends to take place on the Saturday before Christmas at the venue of Royal Ascot and will be one of the more popular jumps fixtures at the venue. Horses that run well in this race will often go to Cheltenham before the Cleeve Hurdle on their next start before heading back to the Stayers Hurdle at the Festival thanks to the clearly defined programme for the long distance hurdlers.

Who is the most iconic winner of the Long Walk Hurdle?

We have already mentioned some of the legendary horses to have won the Long Walk Hurdle down the years with names like Baracouda, Reve De Sivola and Thistlecrack rolling off the tongue but even those three can't match the great Big Buck's who simply dominated the division. The Paul Nicholls trained horse won the Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival four times during a golden spell but he loved going to Ascot as well before Christmas with three successive wins in the race between 2009 and 2011.

Are there any trials for the Long Walk Hurdle?

There is a clear plan on the road to the Stayers' Hurdle and it is the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot that tends to be step two on that path. The key race when looking for potential runners is the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury with horses who show up well there often heading to Berkshire for their next race on their way back to Prestbury Park. There have been a number of multiple winners of this race so last years renewal is always worth checking as well with staying hurdlers a specialist division that tends to suit a certain type of animal.