Impose Toi took the step up from handicap to graded company in his stride by winning the Coral Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury.
Impressive in a Pertemps Qualifier on his return to action at Aintree, the seven-year-old was sent off the 6/5 favourite for the Nicky Henderson team and was always travelling strongly in a race run at a stop-start pace.
He was on the heels of eventual runner-up Strong Leader (5/2) going to the last but made a hash of that flight.
Nico de Boinville soon had to get serious with Nicky Henderson’s charge who eventually overhauled his rival in the closing stages to win by half-a-length.
The sponsors cut Impose Toi to 10/1 for the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
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Henderson said: “Nico said he didn’t jump as well as he can do. We tried him over fences and that wasn’t for him so we are back over hurdles. He is a tough little devil. We have moved up to three miles now, but he did go to Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown last season all over two-and-a-half miles and was good.
“He is getting three miles and we are there now (at Graded level). We got out of handicap company last time and we are well out of it now and we have to continue where we are. I don’t think we worried about the three miles. It struck me that they didn’t go a great gallop and there was a bit of him down the back straight where they panned in on him and he was actually on the bridle which is not like him to be on a bridle as he does everything off it.
“He was doing a bit more there as I don’t think they were going much of a gallop and I think a stronger test would suit him better. We are in the top league of the home defenders. You have got to think about it (the Stayers’ Hurdle) as it is an open division, and it probably always is, as it one that chops and changes every season.
"There are some very good horses in it, but they are all overseas at the moment, and that is probably the best of the Anglo team. Strong Leader is a good yardstick so let’s just see where we go. There is Cheltenham Trials Day. The Long Walk comes quite quickly, but he is a gutsy fella as he went to Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown last season so he can do the quick turnaround.”
Trip to Ireland an option for Strong Leader
Olly Murphy said of Strong Leader: “I would like to take the winner on off levels, but he has run well. He was a lot sharper in the cheekpieces and he jumped well on the whole. I am disappointed to get beat, but I’m proud of his efforts. It was a very good run.
“They have to go a gallop for him and, sending him on turning was something Sean had to do. When you do that you are setting it up for a closer, but he had to do that as they crawled around as there was no pace again. He has been beaten by a better one on the day, but under a six pounds better I thought it was a good run and I would like to take them on again.
“It is frustrating as we have to go left handed, but he doesn’t really like Cheltenham. Going to Ireland is a chat I need to have with the owners, but it is something I would potentially like to have a look at. Otherwise the only thing I can see is a Rendlesham (at Haydock Park), but it could be very soft around there. I can’t see us going back and trying a Long Walk.”
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