Very much a confirmed and reliable trial for the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury is run every year in late November or early December. It takes place on a very important weekend for hurdlers with the two-milers also going in the Fighting Fifth up at Newcastle.
The race was inaugurated in 1990 and takes its participants over the full three-mile distance, jumping 12 of Newbury’s hurdles across the duration.
Given the record of this race’s winners in the past, the Long Distance Hurdle is considered a crucial trial for the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and so horses not just winning but running well in this race have to be noted by punters. Superstars Big Buck’s, Inglis Drever and Thistlecrack have all won this before going on to Festival glory, so it is fair to say that future Cheltenham 2022 offers will depend on the race.
The 2021 edition of the Long Distance Hurdle race will be staged on Friday November 26th.
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As a conditions race and not a handicap, age is unimportant here and in fact there have been many multiple winners who keep coming back year after year.
11 favourites out of 19 have taken the race, but they include some long odds-on shots such as regulars Big Buck’s and Baracouda. This is a quality race, so generally speaking an odds-on shot is very likely to score, but if there isn’t one and taking out the one-off 40/1 scorer Beer Goggles we are left with an average SP of 9/2.
This tells us that there is value to be had if there is not one truly outstanding candidate, so essentially if we have a wide-open field then consider staying away from the favourite altogether.
Many Long Distance Hurdle winners have already had a run that season, so look out for those making late-October or early-November debuts before coming here fully race fit.
7 places7 places
7 placesBetfred are paying 7 places on Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Wednesday, 14:50).
+4 places on Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (Wednesday, 14:10)
+5 places on Glenfarclas Chase (Wednesday, 16:10)
+6 places on Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Wednesday, 16:50)
+4 places on Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Wednesday, 17:30)
Odds 1/5, Full t&c apply.
7 placesDay 1:
Ultima Handicap Chase - 6 places
Juvenile Handicap Hurdle - 5 places
Day 2:
Coral Cup - 6 places
Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase - 4 places
Grand Annual Challenge Cup - 5 places
Champion Bumper - 5 places
Day 3:
Pertemps Network Final - 6 places
Plate Handicap Chase - 5 places
Mares' Novices' Hurdle - 5 places
Kim Muir Handicap Chase - 5 places
Back a horse in a race with Each Way+ and get enhanced place terms or an extra place. Earn yourself a bigger EW payout or gain some extra insurance on your EW bets. 888Sport will pay out an extra place on selected Cheltenham 2022 Races. 18+, T&Cs apply.
Day 2
14:10, The Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeple Chase - 4 places at 1/5
14:50, The Coral Cup - 6 places at 1/5
16:10, The Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase - 4 places at 1/5
16:50, Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase - 5 places at 1/5
17:30, The Weatherbys Champion Bumper - 4 places at 1/5
Money BackHaving won the race in 2016 and then been narrowly beaten by 40/1 shot Beer Goggles the year after, the challenge was on for Unowhatimeanharry to regain his crown at 10 years of age and he had the support of the majority of the crowd.
Sent off favourite, albeit at a very backable 11/4, Harry Fry’s gelding didn’t look overly comfortable early in the race but got into things as the event wore on. After the tenth of 12 hurdles he was looking good, taking the lead between the final two flights under a typically classy Barry Geraghty ride before being eased clear to score by 2½ lengths.
The only other fancied runners in the contest, Sam Spinner (3/1) and Momella (4/1), both crashed out meaning we can probably question the form, but not the popularity of the winner.
Here are all the Long Distance Hurdle winners since 2010, along with how they did at the subsequent Cheltenham Festival if taking part:
