| Long Walk stroll for Inglis Drever
By David Thorpe
The Long Walk hurdle at Windsor is the highlight of this weekend’s racing
action and like all the staying hurdle contests this year it should prove
a procession for the outstanding Inglis Drever.
Howard Johnson’s inmate defeated most of Saturday’s opponents at Cheltenham
last March and has been beating them since.
The JP McManus-owned Baracouda used to dominate these races and is a
real legend of the game but he can’t cope with the pace of his younger rival
and is a non-runner on Saturday.
Inglis Drever is a legend in the making and shouldn’t be beaten by any
of these on Saturday as he gears up for another run at Cheltenham in March.
The valuable each-way bet in the race is the Charlie Mann trained Nathos.
This horse does not have the class to win a race of this type but he
could trouble the judge on Saturday and is worth following in lower quality
races than this over the season.
Crystal D’Ainay is another horse who might run into a place without ever
threatening to win.
Unusually for a Grade One race in Britain not a single Irish horse has
been declared — an indictment of the state of the staying hurdle division
in Ireland which has not produced a genuine contender since the days of
Limestone Lad.
This week’s horses to watch…
Catterick: Thursday 1.50pm
TIP: Alfie Rich
Consistent horse who’s about due another win. Third place on his last
start will set him up for this without ruining his handicap. The booking
of Tony Dobbin is a plus and this horse should go close.
Exeter: Thursday 2.40pm
TIP: Dream Alliance
A horse for whom there was a lot of talk last season, never lived up
to that billing but a decent animal going the right way, as his second place
the last day showed, could be better than this race.
Windsor: Friday 1pm
TIP: Armariver
A horse which would want to be winning soon. A bumper and two maiden
hurdles have yielded three placed efforts. Weight shouldn’t be a problem
and the yard is in form. One to avoid if it flops here though.
Windsor: Friday 2.40pm
TIP: The Listener
A horse who has done nothing wrong in any of his three starts, winning
twice. Might be capable of better than he has shown here, and definitely
one to keep an eye on.
Uttoxeter: Friday 12.50pm
TIP: Hoh Viss
Horse with the right credentials to win what is a poor race. Has shown
glimpses of form which is more than some in this race. Weight shouldn’t
be a problem and has a reasonable chance.
Windsor: Saturday 3.10pm
TIP: Inglis Drever
The finest staying hurdler in training by a considerable margin. Has
beaten all Saturday’s opponents twice this season and there’s no reason
why he can’t repeat the trick. Nap of the week.
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