ITV Racing Tips: Will Agrapart look the part in the Long Walk?
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It was a super Saturday for us last weekend after Frodon landed the spoils in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup. Now we’re ready to go again with six contests from Ascot and Haydock.
The Long Walk Hurdle and the Garrard Silver Cup are two of the standout renewals as Ed Chamberlin and co. gear up for the last batch of racing before Christmas.
We’ve previewed all of the televised action in our ITV Racing Tips.
With Call Me Lord, Unowhatimeanharry, Sam Spinner and Agrapart all in contention, this should be a cracking renewal of the Long Walk Hurdle.
Trainer Nick Williams won the contest three times in a row from 2012 and 2014. And it’s his raider, Agrapart, who gets the nod this time around with Lizzie Kelly on board.
The seven-year-old is tough as old boots and makes enticing claims in a weak staying division after collecting the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle in similar conditions at Cheltenham in January.
His fourth at Aintree on reappearance last month is nothing to worry about. That run was purely about blowing off the cobwebs. Now back up to optimum trip over 3m, we reckon he has sound claims to land a maiden Grade 1 prize.
Never underestimate the influence of a top trainer. That’s our advice ahead of Janika’s first run for Nicky Henderson and the Seven Barrows yard.
The son of Saddler Maker looked seriously smart on his last three runs over obstacles in France, winning all three by a combined total of over 25l.
All those efforts came on heavy ground, and he should get similar conditions here. With Henderson almost certain to eke further improvement out of the five-year-old, he looks like the one to be on.
A chance is taken on Forecast in the big betting heat of the day. The six-year-old should be available at a nice price and looks progressive enough to hit the frame on each-way terms.
Martin Keighley’s hopeful ran well enough behind subsequent Listed winner Fidus and future Grade 3 victor Paisley Park in October. He then got up to score by 15l at Lingfield last time out.
Those are some decent form lines. And with the raider looking like a heavy ground horse, conditions should be in his favour here. A 11lb rise makes life more difficult, but back down in trip to 1m 7f, we reckon he has a decent chance.
ITV Racing tips:
1:50 Ascot – Janika (NB)
2:05 Haydock – Ballymoy
2:25 Ascot – Agrapart (NAP)
2:40 Haydock – Clan Legend
3:00 Ascot – Gold Present
3:35 Ascot – Forecast (Lively Longshot, each-way)
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All Odds and Markets correct as of date of publication
