Long Walk Hurdle 2025 Preview: Can Crambo Make History at Ascot?
The road to the Cheltenham Festival runs through Ascot this Saturday, as the Howden Long Walk Hurdle takes centre stage.
Known as one of the toughest staying hurdles in the calendar, this Grade 1 contest tests stamina, grit, and the ability to handle Ascot’s winter ground.
This year’s renewal (Saturday 20th December) is set to be a cracker. We have a defending champion looking for a historic hat-trick, a Stayers’ Hurdle winner crossing the Irish Sea, and a pack of hungry challengers ready to pounce.
Here is our Long Walk Hurdle 2025 runner-by-runner guide and betting verdict.
The Big Three Contenders
1. Crambo (The Defending Champ)
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien
The Case For: He is quite simply the “King of Ascot.” Crambo has made this race his own over the last two years, proving he loves the track and the unique uphill finish. A win here would make him a legend of the race. He idles in front, meaning he always saves a bit for the finish line.
The Case Against: He carries a target on his back, and this year the opposition is stiffer than ever.
2. Teahupoo (The Irish Raider)
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
The Case For: The undisputed staying champion. After dominating the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, he is officially the highest-rated horse in the division. He goes well fresh (usually winning on his seasonal debut) and has the class to blow this field apart if he is fit.
The Case Against: Gordon Elliott has his eyes firmly on March. Will he be 100% wound up for this, or is it just a stepping stone?
3. The Jukebox Man (The Value Play)
Trainer: Ben Pauling
The Case For: He was an impressive winner at Haydock last month and is a young, improving stayer. He likes to front-run, which could make him dangerous if he gets into a rhythm and turns it into a sprint.
Long Walk Hurdle Trends: What to Look For
History tells us a lot about who wins this race.
Age Matters: Focus on horses aged 6 to 8. Older horses (9+) often struggle to keep up with the pace in the final mile here.
Distance Form: 10 of the last 10 winners had previously run over a trip of about 3 miles. This is not a race for horses stepping up in trip for the first time.
The “French” Connection: French-bred horses have a phenomenal record in this race (think Big Buck’s, Reve De Sivola, Paisley Park). Qualifier: Crambo.
Our Verdict
This is a battle between the “Course Specialist” and the “Division Leader.”
While Teahupoo is the better horse on ratings, CRAMBO is hard to oppose at Ascot. He comes alive at this track, and with the benefit of a recent run to sharpen him up, he looks the safest bet to land the hat-trick.
Win Tip: Crambo
Each Way: The Jukebox Man
How to Watch & Bet on the Long Walk Hurdle
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