Tag Archive for: Long Walk Hurdle

Merry Crambo again for Fergal O’Brien after Long Walk repeat

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Crambo repeated his victory of last year when grimly holding on to win a second Howden Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.

Since his victory in the race 12 months ago, his career had been in danger of coming off the rails, having disappointed at Cheltenham and Aintree.

Trainer Fergal O’Brien had wanted him to reappear at Newbury last month but he was not quite right, so it meant that he was having to take on race-fit rivals in a Grade One on his seasonal return.

Sent off at 9-1, Crambo had plenty to do jumping the second last before his stamina kicked in.

The race had been taken along by Beauport, better known as a chaser, and as he was given such an easy lead, at the second-last flight it appeared he had slipped the field.

He was still in front jumping the last, but perhaps cleared that obstacle just a bit big, which gave Crambo the chance to draw upsides.

Once Johnny Burke had mastered him, there was a new danger, as Henry de Bromhead’s Hiddenvalley Lake put down the final challenge, but he just failed by a head. Beauport stuck on for third, with The Wallpark fourth.

The favourite Strong Leader was one of the first beaten and never looked like winning.

“It’s been a tough time, horses haven’t been firing and we’ve had a change of jockey. We’ve been getting it from all angles,” said O’Brien.

Howden Christmas Racing Weekend – Ascot Races – Saturday December 21st
Connections of Crambo after winning the Howden Long Walk Hurdle (Nigel French/PA).

“The horses haven’t been quite right but the winning of this race was not running at Newbury, I knew we could get him better. I knew he likes the track here.

“If we were going to see the old Crambo, the best place to come was here. I couldn’t do it without the owners, I’m so grateful to Chris (Giles, owner) for letting me wait and come back here. He’s shown us what we wanted to see today.

“Johnny will be a big part of where we go next, he’s the one who is riding him and he’s the one who knows how he felt at Cheltenham last year.

“I genuinely think we had a good first half of the season and then the wheels fell off, I was a bit disappointed in myself for running him at Aintree but he’s come back here today and he’s shown what he can do.

Howden Christmas Racing Weekend – Ascot Races – Saturday December 21st
Crambo and jockey Johnny Burke (Nigel French/PA).

“This job brings its own pressures but as a trainer, you put pressure on yourself, because you want to do well, for your owners, for your staff, for everyone else.

“They haven’t been quite right but we’ve always kept the belief in our system.”

Delighted owner Giles added: “He never does it easy, does he? He wins just by a little bit, it’s lovely to see that and lovely to see him back.

“Some thinking has to be done, you wonder whether he loved Cheltenham. That’s one for the trainer to work out!”

Murphy rates Strong Leader ‘worthy favourite’ for Long Walk win

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A hopeful Olly Murphy “wouldn’t swap” Strong Leader for any of his rivals in the Howden Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.

The seven-year-old has really come of age since being stepped up to three miles, finishing third in last season’s Cleeve Hurdle on his first start at the distance before rounding off his campaign with a Grade One victory in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree.

He picked up where he left off when giving weight and a beating to three rivals in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury last month and while he is taking nothing for granted, Murphy is confident his stable star will prove hard to beat in this weekend’s traditional pre-Christmas feature.

“I’m looking forward to it, he’s trained really well,” said the Warwickshire-based handler.

“He hasn’t won going right-handed, but I don’t think that should be an issue. He’s got Grade One form, he’s got no penalty and I wouldn’t swap him, albeit it’s a very competitive race.

“I know he’s been a bit hit and miss during his career, but at the trip he hasn’t. I think he’s a worthy favourite, I’m under no illusions that it’s a very competitive race, but he’s in really good form and I’ve got no excuses – win, lose or draw.

“I’m not saying my lad’s a certainty, but if you said I could swap for another horse in the race, I don’t think I would.

“It’s very easy to make an excuse before you get going but he’s trained well, the horses are in good nick, he’s unexposed at the trip and we’re really looking forward to Saturday.”

Chief among Strong Leader’s rivals is Gordon Elliott’s prolific Irish raider The Wallpark.

The six-year-old was rated just 129 when lining up at Kilbeggan in July, but is now some 23lb higher in the weights after completing a four-timer in a Pertemps Qualifier at Cheltenham in October.

He has been snapped up by JP McManus ahead of a significant rise in grade this weekend, and the owner’s racing manager Frank Berry said: “He’s progressive and has had a good year. It’s going to be a step up in class, but Gordon’s happy with him and is hoping for a nice run.

“It’s a grand race and it’s nice to have one in there with some sort of chance.”

The Fergal O’Brien-trained Crambo got the better of popular veteran Paisley Park in a pulsating finish to last year’s Long Walk and is back to defend his crown.

However, he will return to Ascot with something to prove, having disappointed at Cheltenham and Aintree in the spring, while he is also making his belated seasonal debut after an unsatisfactory scope ruled him out of an intended comeback at Newbury.

“Fingers crossed, he’s in great shape, we’re very happy with him. He schooled very well on Thursday morning and worked well on Tuesday and he’s in a great place,” said O’Brien.

“It’s a very tough race. I was hoping it was just going to be Olly’s horse (to beat), but there’s plenty of others in there, isn’t there?

“Crambo is ready and, touch wood, he usually runs well first time out. He’s fresh and well, he’s done a lot of work and we’re very happy with him, so hopefully he can go and do himself justice.”

Fergal O’Brien with stable star Crambo
Fergal O’Brien with stable star Crambo (Adam Davy/PA)

If there is a silver lining to Crambo’s later than planned return, it could be that there will be more in the tank for the Festivals in the spring than was the case last season.

O’Brien added: “This race last year was his third run of the season. He had a nice run in Aintree, but then he had a hard race at Haydock and we rolled into Ascot, where he won again but had a very hard race – he went to places where he’d never been before.

“That probably left its mark a little bit and I probably should have pulled the plug after Cheltenham instead of going to Aintree, but hindsight’s a wonderful thing.”

Henry de Bromhead’s Hiddenvalley Lake makes his first appearance since finishing third behind Strong Leader at Aintree in April, while fellow Irish challenger Shoot First is an interesting contender, as he steps up in class four weeks on from a lucrative handicap success at Haydock for Charles Byrnes.

Other hopefuls include Dan Skelton’s high-class mare Kateira and the Paul Nicholls-trained Blueking d’Oroux, who finished second in the Ascot Hurdle over a shorter trip last month.

Crambo on course to defend Long Walk title on Saturday

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Last year’s winner Crambo is among a field of 10 declared for the Howden Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.

The form of Fergal O’Brien’s seven-year-old tailed off following his first Grade One win and he missed his intended reappearance at Newbury. However, jockey Jonathan Burke has seen a different side to him on the gallops recently and expects a better showing.

“I’m really looking forward to him, he missed the run at Newbury, but he’s been training well, he’s fresh and well so we’re very happy with him,” he said.

Crambo (right) edged out Paisley Park last year
Crambo (right) edged out Paisley Park last year (Steven Paston/PA)

“He obviously showed a liking for Ascot (last year) and I’m really looking forward to getting him out.

“He used to be a horse you used to have to watch yourself schooling him as he could jam on, but this year he’s much better, you can do whatever you want on him whereas before you used to always want a lead on him.

“At Ascot last year everything went smoothly, but at Cheltenham and Aintree I was never really happy on him, hopefully all that is behind him now.”

Olly Murphy’s Strong Leader took full advantage of Crambo’s absence at Newbury and his now regarded as the leading staying hurdler in the UK. He is aiming for a second top-level win after success at Aintree.

Stepping up markedly in class is Gordon Elliott’s The Wallpark, who was bought by JP McManus after winning at Cheltenham recently.

The Wallpark (right) is bidding for a five-timer
The Wallpark (right) is bidding for a five-timer (Niall Carson/PA)

Also making the journey from Ireland are Charles Byrnes’ Shoot First, the Henry de Bromhead-trained Hiddenvalley Lake and William Durkan’s Eagle Fang. Beauport, Blueking d’Oroux, Botox Has and Kateira complete the field.

Burke also has a big chance in the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle on O’Brien’s Dysart Enos, third in the Greatwood on her comeback.

“She ran a belter considering it was 11 months off and probably the right horses came clear,” Burke told Sky Sports Racing.

“I might ride her with a bit more cover this time, but it was the way the race panned out at Cheltenham.

“Hopefully she should be there or thereabouts and naturally you think she’d improve.”

Be Aware, just in front of her at Cheltenham, takes her on again for Dan Skelton. Paul Nicholls’ unbeaten Kabral Du Mathan, Hughie Morrison’s Secret Squirrel and Alan King’s Favour And Fortune also run in a field of 13.

Fergal O’Brien hoping for early Crambo present at Ascot

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Fergal O’Brien’s Crambo will get his season under way with a title defence in the Howden Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.

The seven-year-old defeated Paisley Park by a short head to claim the contest last term, prior to which he won on his seasonal debut at Aintree and finished third in Haydock’s Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle.

After the Grade One triumph at Ascot, Crambo then contested the top-level staying hurdles at both Cheltenham and Aintree, but did not hit the same heights as he had previously, finishing unplaced at both festivals.

He was due to kick off the current campaign in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury but a bad scope scuppered that plan, meaning the gelding will be seen for the first time since April when fighting to retain his Long Walk Hurdle crown.

“He’s very well, we’re really pleased with him. He had to miss Newbury but we have our fingers crossed he can make amends for it at Ascot,” said O’Brien.

“He just had a dirty scope but everything’s fine now and he’s been pleasing us at home.

“By this time last year, he’d already had two runs, so we’re hoping from here we can go a bit further into the season, through the winter and into the spring.”

Also entered is Olly Murphy’s Strong Leader, who signed off last term with a Grade One success in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree and was straight off the mark when winning the Long Distance Hurdle on his first run this season.

Dan Skelton’s two-time Coral Cup winner Langer Dan was third in the latter race and holds an entry too, alongside stablemate Kateira.

Paul Nicholls has entered Blueking d’Oroux, Nigel Twiston-Davies has put forward Beauport alongside Gary and Josh Moore’s Botox Has, with Ruth Jefferson’s Kerryhill completing the home team.

There is a strong Irish contingent still engaged at this stage, with Henry de Bromhead’s Hiddenvalley Lake, Charles Byrnes’ Shoot First, William Durkan’s Eagle Fang and Gordon Elliott’s The Wallpark all on the list.

Crambo denies Paisley Park in pulsating Long Walk

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Crambo came out on top in a breathtaking battle of the ages with Paisley Park to claim Howden Long Walk Hurdle glory at Ascot.

Paisley Park was bidding to match the brilliant Baracouda’s record of four wins in the Grade One contest over an extended three miles.

But the popular 11-year-old just had to give way to Crambo – five years his junior, who was providing trainer Fergal O’Brien with just his second elite-level success.

Dashel Drasher set off in his customary prominent position, but there was little more than a few lengths covering all 10 runners at the halfway stage.

With four flights left to jump, it was noticeable that Paisley Park was lying handier than has often been the case and Tom Bellamy threw down a challenge between the last couple of hurdles.

However, Jonathan Burke made his move at the exact same time and the pair jumped the final obstacle together before settling down for a ding-dong battle on the run-in.

It was impossible to predict the outcome until close home, when 5-1 chance Crambo edged in front by a short head to give O’Brien a first Grade One triumph since Poetic Rhythm in 2017.

“He never knows he’s beat,” said O’Brien. “The horse is still very young and I can’t believe he is here winning a Grade One – I could tell two furlongs out he was going to get there.

A big smile from winning jockey Jonathan Burke
A big smile from winning jockey Jonathan Burke (Steven Paston/PA)

“He’s a bull of a horse, Noel Fehily bred him with Jared (Sullivan, co-owner) and Noel always has him home and pre-trains him and has done a great job with him.

“He’s unique, Noel was telling me today he was two weeks’ premature and the mum foaled herself and he is just one of those – you honestly wouldn’t know he was in the place at home, he’s so straightforward.

“We took him away a couple of weeks ago because I wanted Johnny to have a sit on him and because I didn’t want Johnny to get to the races and think, ‘I’m not getting much of a feel here’, because that is just Crambo.

“He said he didn’t give him much of a feel, but I said just trust him on the day and that is what he did – and I can’t thank Johnny enough, he’s given him a fantastic ride.”

O’Brien had taken the tough decision to choose Burke ahead of Crambo’s regular rider Connor Brace.

He added: “Johnny has been riding in Grade Ones since he was 18 years of age. It was my decision, I’ve never hidden behind the owners and I just felt coming here today, I needed to tick all the boxes.

“Connor has done a fantastic job and to be honest, Connor has made this horse over the years.

“This horse hasn’t arrived here today the finished article, this is down to what Connor and all the team at home have put into him, which is what you see today.”

Crambo was cut to 8-1 for the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham by Betfair, Coral and Paddy Power.

“I’m very lucky that I have very good owners and I will speak to them when I get home, and speak to Neil (Jukes, race planner), who does our entries, and see where we go.

“I personally don’t think he needs another run before Cheltenham, but we will see.

“We’ll take it one race at a time and it’s only my second Grade One and I’ve been training 12 years. It’s been a long time between drinks and the first one was very important to me because it belonged to Chris Cooley, who I wouldn’t be here without and I’m absolutely delighted.”

Winning jockey Burke added: “The last time he tried Graded company, he finished about seventh, so it was obviously a big step up and he needed to step up and thankfully he did.

Howden Christmas Racing Weekend – Day Two – Ascot Racecourse
Runners and riders during the Howden Long Walk Hurdle (Steven Paston/PA)

“He travelled through the race great, jumped brilliant and his jumping was probably as slick as ever – and he battled well from the back of two out.

“It all went smoothly and I got a lovely position and his jumping kept me there. I was kind of wary of him hitting a flat spot but that never happened and as soon I straightened up, myself and Paisley had a great battle and it was kind of what the race was set up to be – those older horses against the young ones coming through.

“He’s definitely thrown his name into the staying hurdling division now. If he keeps improving on what he has done today, then he will surely be a force to be reckoned with.”

On replacing Brace, Burke said: “I’m there to do a job and get on the horse and ride him. You can get distracted by all the stuff beforehand but once you get on the horse’s back, it’s just another race.

“He travelled and jumped great and from the bottom of the straight he was always going to battle. It’s what we do it for, these Saturdays and the Graded races, so it is great.”

Baracouda record in Paisley Park’s sights at Ascot

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Paisley Park will try to match the great Baracouda’s record with a fourth triumph in the Howden Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.

The highly-popular 11-year-old first won the contest in 2018 and returned to the Berkshire track to reclaim his title in 2020 before landing a rescheduled 2022 running at Kempton last Christmas.

While Big Buck’s and Reve De Sivola were each three-time race winners, no horse has yet equalled the Francois Doumen-trained Baracouda, who won the race in 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004, as well as being beaten just a length into second in 2002.

Though now a veteran with 28 runs and 11 wins under his belt, the Emma Lavelle-trained Paisley Park looked to have lost none of his vim when lining up for the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury first time out this season.

He was beaten just a head by Jeremy Scott’s equally likeable Dashel Drasher, who reopposes on Saturday.

Aidan Coleman and Paisley Park after winning the Long Walk Hurdle in 2020
Aidan Coleman and Paisley Park after winning the Long Walk Hurdle in 2020 (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

“He seems in great order at home and has done everything we have wanted since his last run and we’ll see,” said Lavelle.

“I was delighted with how he was at Newbury and these races take a lot of winning, so it is lovely to see so many of the old boys back again.

“He kept galloping, and that is what we wanted to see – and if he can keep doing that, and if his legs can go round fast enough, he will be giving it his all.

“We’re very much looking forward to running and seeing what happens. Hopefully, it can continue to be his favourite race.”

Paisley Park winning the Long Walk when it was relocated to Kempton last season
Paisley Park winning the Long Walk when it was relocated to Kempton last season (John Walton/PA)

On the prospect of matching Baracouda’s record, Lavelle added: “It would be an extraordinary achievement, it really would.

“All we can do is hope and he’s just been the most remarkable horse for us. He certainly seems to be enjoying his racing the same as ever.”

Dan Skelton’s West Balboa was a winner on her seasonal debut when taking a class two hurdle over two and a half miles at Aintree in November.

The race was only contested by three horses, but 12 lengths behind her was Olly Murphy’s Brewin’upastorm, a Grade Two winner, and 10 lengths behind him was Grade One-winning chaser Millers Bank.

This Ascot contest is a step up in grade and trip for the seven-year-old, but she is proven over the latter after winning the Village Hotels Handicap Hurdle at Aintree on her final start last term.

West Balboa and Harry Skelton at Aintree
West Balboa and Harry Skelton at Aintree (Nigel French/PA)

“She’s in good form, she started off her season very well at Aintree,” said Skelton.

“She definitely deserves to be there and deserves her go at the top flight.

“It was a good run (at Aintree) and beating a good yardstick like Brewin’upastorm is a fine start to the season.

“With respect, this is harder and she’ll have to step up, but she’s a good mare.”

Nicky Henderson will be represented by Champ, the 2021 winner of the race who makes his seasonal debut in the contest after finishing fifth in the Liverpool Hurdle when last seen in spring.

Champ en route to winning the contest in 2021
Champ en route to winning the contest in 2021 (Nigel French/PA)

Champ runs in the silks of owner JP McManus, whose racing manager Frank Berry said: “He goes well fresh and Nicky and the team seem happy with him.

“He’s not getting any younger, but we’ll see how he goes.

“There’s a few younger ones coming along, but they’re very consistent those older horses and he’s in good form, so you’d be hoping for a good run.”

Paul Nicholls has a pair of contenders in Red Risk and the four-year-old Blueking D’Oroux.

Red Risk progressed from handicaps to finish second in the Grade Two bet365 Hurdle and will be ridden by Bryony Frost, with stable jockey Harry Cobden taking the ride on Coral Hurdle winner Blueking D’Oroux.

Red Risk and Harry Cobden
Red Risk and Harry Cobden (John Walton/PA)

“He is an interesting contender and it’s encouraging that two four-year-olds have won this race in the past,” Nicholls said of the latter horse via Betfair.

“Trying this trip of three miles is a bit of a shot in the dark at this stage of his career and I’d be happier if he was a year older. But who knows how good he might be?

“He’s improving all the time and galloped on strongly all the way to the line in winning the Grade Two Coral Hurdle over two miles, three and a half furlongs at this track a month ago.”

Of Red Risk, the trainer added: “He ran a cracker on his seasonal debut at Wetherby, where he kept on in determined style to finish a close second behind Botox Has in the bet365 Hurdle, with two classy types behind him.

“That’s really smart form. Red Risk was only just touched off in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton in January and has the ability to run into a place.

Fergal O’Brien has a live chance in Crambo, last seen finishing third in a valuable handicap hurdle at Haydock.

Crambo at Aintree
Crambo at Aintree (Tim Goode/PA)

Though he was unable to get his head in front on that occasion, he still ran with plenty of promise – enough to encourage connections to take the step up to Grade One level.

“He carried an awful lot of weight at Haydock and beat some good horses,” O’Brien said of the run.

“On another day and with a bit more luck, he maybe would have won and we’re very happy with him.

“He has to step up but he’s trained very well since Haydock and we felt it’d be foolish not to give it a go, it will tell us a lot about where we want to go with him next.”

The Gary Moore duo of Botox Has and Goshen and Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Gowel Road complete the line up.

Champ aiming to regain Long Walk crown

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Nicky Henderson feels Champ has gone a long way to living up to his name as he goes in search of a second Howden Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.

Owned by JP McManus, the soon-to-be 12-year-old won the race two years ago under Jonjo O’Neill jnr and he has maintained the partnership ever since.

Famously named after former champion jockey AP McCoy, Champ was a dual Grade One-winning novice hurdler as well as winning a Grade One novice chase at Cheltenham, beating Minella Indo and Allaho in dramatic style.

He will be making his first appearance of the season at Ascot but that is by design, with Henderson confident he is at his best fresh.

“He’s actually very good. He’s one of our real friends, he’s been here a long, long time,” Henderson told Sky Sports Racing.

“He’s lived up to his name in a lot of ways and you couldn’t have a nicer horse.

“He’s very laid back at home, he doesn’t show you an awful lot and he loves to be fresh.

“Last year we started at Newbury when he had a fantastic battle with Paisley Park and then came to the Long Walk, but we’ve always thought he’s possibly best first time out, so we kept him back from Newbury to have a crack at this again.

“Last year after the Long Walk we decided not to go to Cheltenham and keep him for Aintree, but it didn’t really work.

“He works with another old friend, On The Blind Side, who ran a fantastic race at Sandown the other day and they do all their work together but you can hardly call it work, they just go through the motions enjoying themselves.”

With fellow veterans Dashel Drasher and Paisley Park in opposition along with some much younger rivals, Henderson is looking forward to the race.

He said: “You are never confident about any of these Grade One races, it’s going to be very competitive and you can be pretty sure it will be a solid gallop with Dashel Drasher there.

“Paisley will be lurking around, one minute you think you’ve got him covered and then he’ll suddenly reappear at the death – it should be good.”

Botox Has heads dual Long Walk challenge for Moore

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Botox Has will spearhead Gary Moore’s Howden Long Walk Hurdle challenge on Saturday, with stable stalwart Goshen also poised to line-up at Ascot.

The former produced arguably a career best when claiming Wetherby’s Grade Two West Yorkshire Hurdle last month and his handler has been waiting for a crack at this Grade One ever since.

The form of that race has a strong look with Jeremy Scott’s reopposing Wetherby third Dashel Drasher getting the better of three-time Long Walk hero Paisley Park at Newbury and Moore is now keen to see if Botox Has can back up that performance and cement his place as one of the leading players in a wide-open division.

“I’m looking forward to running him and the form is working out well,” said Moore.

“Hopefully he is as good as he was that day at Wetherby but time will tell.

“He’s always been a fair horse and he was probably one of the best English horses during his juvenile year – if it had not been for Goshen he would have been the top four-year-old, he’s always been a good horse.

“He didn’t really take to chasing but has done well reverting back to hurdles.”

Caoilin Quinn will keep the ride on Botox Has
Caoilin Quinn will keep the ride on Botox Has (Nigel French/PA)

The race also offers a huge opportunity to conditional jockey Caoilin Quinn, who was aboard Botox Has when winning a valuable handicap at Haydock last season and when striking at Wetherby, with Moore feeling he deserves the chance to continue the association.

He said: “He has won two nice races on him so you could hardly take him off.”

There are no secrets surrounding the enigmatic Goshen, who was a winner at this track last term and also finished second when this race took place at Kempton last Boxing Day, but has struggled in both outings over hurdles this term.

Last seen in the rearranged Fighting Fifth at Sandown, Moore feels the return to three miles is just what the seven-year-old now requires and said: “I think that now suits him better, but I don’t know if the ground is going to be soft enough for him.

Goshen finished third in the Long Walk Hurdle last year
Goshen finished third in the Long Walk Hurdle last year (John Walton/PA)

“It was an afterthought (to go to Sandown) and I probably shouldn’t have run there. He’s danced every dance.”

A field of 10 will head to post with Paisley Park going for win number four in the Grade One and Nicky Henderson’s Champ bidding to regain the title he won in 2021.

Dan Skelton’s West Balboa will try to extend her three-race winning-run after an impressive display at Aintree last month, while Fergal O’Brien has always thought plenty of Crambo who suffered an interrupted passage when third at Haydock.

Blueking D’Oroux is on a rapid upward curve and unbeaten in two outings this term. He is one of two for champion trainer Paul Nicholls alongside West Yorkshire hurdle runner-up Red Risk, with the in-form Gavin Sheehan aboard Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Gowel Road.

Moore has Long Walk in mind for Botox

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Gary Moore is keen for a crack at the Ladbrokes Long Walk Hurdle with Botox Has after his winning return at Wetherby.

The game seven-year-old had been off the track since finishing fourth in Cheltenham’s Cleeve Hurdle in January and pulled out arguably a career-best performance to deny Red Risk by a length in the West Yorkshire Hurdle.

That was the second time he has struck at Grade Two level and his handler was thrilled to see him return from 280 days off in such brilliant form.

“It was good to see him back on form, he’s a big-hearted horse who tries really hard,” said Moore.

“It worried me when he made a mistake two out, but he stuck to his guns and won quite well in the end.”

Botox Has holds an entry for the Betfair Exchange Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at Haydock later this month – a race he won 12 months ago.

However, Moore is keen to stick to the graded route in a division without a standout performer and is eyeing up a first run in Grade One company at Ascot on December 23.

Botox Has and connections after winning at Wetherby
Botox Has and connections after winning at Wetherby (Nigel French/PA)

“I hope to train him for the Long Walk Hurdle now, that’s what I hope the plan will be,” he added.

“Whether he won the other day because he was fitter than the rest of them and because he had been trained for that race, I don’t know? He always does run well fresh, but I hope he can improve on that.

“It’s probably not quite the strongest division there is.”