The Wallpark could try to make an immediate impression for new owner JP McManus by breaking new Grade One ground in Saturday’s Howden Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.
No Irish-trained horse has won jump racing’s final top-flight prize before Christmas, although bookmakers reckon The Wallpark is the raiders’ best chance of reversing that trend this weekend.
He is one of a dozen horses left in the three-mile test after Monday’s latest acceptance stage, a list that also includes other Irish hopes, Eagle Fang, Hiddenvalley Lake and Shoot First.
Last year’s winner Crambo and Strong Leader head the likely home team for a race with a stellar roll-of-honour including the record four-time winner Baracouda.
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That French star was owned by McManus who last scored with Champ in 2021 and has recently bought into the The Wallpark’s rapidly progressive profile.
Gordon Elliott’s runner has won his last four, including an impressive success on his last start in a Pertemps qualifier at Cheltenham.
Thoughts of waiting for the Pertemps Final at the festival in March look like being shelved in preference to the horse dipping his toe into top-flight company.
“The Wallpark will run at Ascot all being well. We kind to need to find out a little bit I suppose. He won so well at Cheltenham he’d probably have near top weight in the Pertemps [Final] and the staying division probably doesn’t look the strongest if you take the top horses out, and we’ll find out on Saturday which way we’re going,” Elliott explained on Monday.
Elliott has the reigning Stayers champion Teahupoo who is a clear 5/2 favourite in some lists to retain the crown at Cheltenham in March.
The Wallpark is currently a 33/1 outsider for Cheltenham’s staying championship, but the Long Walk has a proven record in identifying top staying talent with Big Buck’s also among its previous winners.
“The Wallpark doesn’t show much at home but keeps winning and that’s an okay thing to have in a horse.
“But Teahupoo has been there and done it on the big day, and I suppose he’s the one they have to beat. The Wallpark’s not fancy at home, not fancy through his race, but knows how to win, keeps on winning,” Elliott also reported.
Charles Byrnes has left in Shoot First who sprang a 22/1 surprise when winning his last start at Haydock last month.
Hiddenvalley Lake hasn’t been seen in action to date this season but switched from fences to land Navan’s Boyne Hurdle last term before finishing third to Strong Leader in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree. The latter impressed on his comeback when successful at Newbury last month
Saturday’s Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle includes the Cian Collins-trained Impero among its 15 entries. The five-year-old has won his last three starts including last time out at Musselburgh.
In other news, Rachael Blackmore had to settle for second on her comeback ride at Naas on Monday when the odds-on Slade Steel gave best to Lecky Watson.
Last season’s Cheltenham Festival winner had to settle for the runner-up spot behind the Willie Mullins-trained winner as Blackmore returned to action almost three months after sustaining a neck injury in a fall at Downpatrick.
The groundbreaking rider also had to settle for minor money in her only other ride on Monday. The 14/1 shot Belle The Tigress was third to another Mullins winner, Baby Kate, who upset her odds-on stable companion Karoline Banbou.
Slade Steel was subsequently stretched in Arkle betting although Lecky Watson was cut to 25/1 by some firms for Cheltenham’s Brown Advisory Chase in March.
“Fences are bringing out improvement in him and I’m very happy with that. His attitude to jumping was tremendous as well,” Mullins said.
“He seemed to be able to put in quick ones and take a flyer when he wanted. Generally, for a horse first time over fences it was a very good first start. Paul [Townend] was giving me the impression that he wouldn’t be afraid to go further.
“He said before the race that he thought this was his trip – I thought he might want a bit further, but he thought this was the right place to start him. Maybe we’ll stay around this trip,” he added.
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