14:25 Ascot

Saturday 23 December 2017

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

JLT Reve De Sivola Long Walk Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 6m 3.15s

L'Ami Serge^h²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 159| C

5/1

Has had his critics in the past but no doubting his ability when everything clicks. The step up to 3m looked a masterstroke when landing the French Champion Hurdle during the summer. Easy to back on return a month ago but expected to figure here.

Form: 251-212

Lil Rockerfeller^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: T E Whelan| T: N B King| OR: 160| C

7/1

Tough sort who was runner-up in this last year and occupied the same spot in the World Hurdle. Got the better of L'Ami Serge here a month ago but that rival would be favoured on these terms and with the benefit of that run. Sure to be thereabouts.

Form: 2420-31

Sam Spinner²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Joe Colliver| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 139

9/2

Impressive winner of Haydock's Stayers Hurdle and has earned the right to mix it with some of the best in the division here. Clearly progressing but this requires another big leap forward.

Form: 1211-21

Taquin Du Seuil²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 157

20/1

Placed in the Coral Cup and the Grade One Stayers Hurdle at Aintree in the spring. Will be better for his Newbury comeback but appears held by Unowwhatimeanharry.

Form: 15424-3

The Worlds End²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 149| BF

10/1

Travelling well when falling two out in the Albert Bartlett and made amends when landing the "Sefton" at Aintree. Failed to handle the conditions under his big weight when trailing in behind Sam Spinner on return to action, but better expected here.

Form: 111F1-8

Thomas Campbell³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 148| C| D

15/2

Has begun to showcase his talent since stepping up to 3m and earned his place here with a comfortable success at Cheltenham a month ago. Something to find on form, but we are probably yet to see the best of him.

Form: 5547-11

Ubak³⁹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 146

66/1

Well behind Unowhatimeanharry when last seen over a year ago. Would struggle in this company even if at his best.

Form: 314/054-

Unowhatimeanharry^t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: B J Geraghty| T: H Fry| OR: 167| CD

6/4

Only defeat in Grade 1 company last year came in the Stayers Hurdle when the ground may have been too lively. Found the concession of 6lb to an improving rival beyond him last time and hard to deny a possible repeat of last year's success.

Form: 1131-12

Non-Runners

Agrapart⁴⁹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: Nick Williams J: Lizzie Kelly

Forecasts

Unowhatimeanharry (6/4), Sam Spinner (9/2), L'Ami Serge (5/1), Lil Rockerfeller (7/1), Thomas Campbell (15/2), The Worlds End (10/1), Taquin Du Seuil (20/1), Agrapart (25/1), Ubak (66/1)

An epic battle is on the cards with some of the country's leading stayers taken on by younger upstarts with pretentions of taking the World Hurdle crown in March. Sam Spinner, The Worlds End and Thomas Campbell are all progressive types who could upset the established contenders. Lil Rockerfeller is always bang there and finished second to UNOWHATIMEANHARRY in this last year. The latter had to concede best to the improving Beer Goggles last time but has no penalty to shoulder this time and is taken to go one better. L'Ami Serge won over this trip at the first attempt in June and the market signals were ominous prior to his defeat by Lil Rockerfeller on his return. Conditions look good and this race could set up nicely for him.