The Wallpark bids to continue Irish jumps domination in the Long Walk
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Gordon Elliott’s progressive six-year-old can land another Group One contest for the raiders at Ascot. Just four of Britain’s 38 Grade One events over jumps have yet to be won by a horse trained in Ireland, and the list could be down to three after the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday, when four of 10-strong field, including Gordon Elliott’s progressive six-year-old, The Wallpark (2.25), will be running for Irish stables.
![[Greg Wood]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2017/10/06/Greg_Wood,_L.png?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
The Wallpark has had an unconventional preparation for Saturday’s race with one race per month from May to October, when he was an impressive winner under 11st 7lb in a handicap at Cheltenham’s first meeting of the winter campaign. That was The Wallpark’s first run over three miles and marked a new career-best with the clear possibility of better still to come, not least as the quirks he showed earlier in his career for Elliott now seem to be on the wane.
Strong Leader, the winner of Newbury’s Long Distance Hurdle in November, is the top-rated runner in the field and is the obvious leader of the home team, while Crambo, last year’s winner, is also in the field, though he has not been out since finishing down the field behind Strong Leader in the Grade One Liverpool Hurdle in April.
At the likely prices, however, The Wallpark is worth an interest at around 4-1 to continue his improvement and extend his current winning streak to five races. Ascot 1.50 An unusually strong four-runner graduation chase, with just 3lb separating the field on Timeform ratings, with Jungle Boogie perhaps the value bet at around 7-2. Henry de Bromhead’s 10-year-old is the veteran of the field but remains lightly-raced with just six career starts and travelled well until a mistake three out in last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.
