Honesty Policy can stamp his authority on the wide-open staying hurdling division with victory in the Howden Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.
It is no revelation to say the 4800m hurdling crop is not vintage, but at least this Grade One offers the chance to one of last season’s novices to put their hand up.
Impose Toi bridged the gap from handicaps when winning the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury last time out, but strictly on the book he should not beat Strong Leader, who was only just behind him and will be 6lb better off.
However, we know Strong Leader has an aversion to going right-handed and finished tailed off in this when favourite last year.
Crambo won it for a second year in a row but he is definitely more out than in these days and very hard to fancy, whereas Potter’s Charm threatens to improve for the trip though his form leaves him with a bit to find.
It is so open that the French horse Jet Blue or even Colonel Mustard can be given chances, but there appears to be plenty of confidence behind Gordon Elliott’s raider Honesty Policy.
That is no surprise given the yard are absolutely flying, he won a Grade One over 4000m at Aintree and just failed against Jasmin De Vaux (out injured) at Punchestown.
He is a very lightly-raced five-year-old, it would be harsh to say he did not stay the trip at Punchestown and with a summer on his back he should have improved again.
Alexei has improved in leaps and bounds this season and can continue Joe Tizzard’s good recent run in the Ascot Rotary Club Festive Handicap Hurdle.
Bought from the Flat in Germany, he won his first two races over hurdles easily, and while he struggled a bit when upped in class afterwards he has looked a different proposition this season.
Second in a hot Welsh Champion Hurdle to Celtic Dino, he won a valuable race over this course and distance in November and followed up off 7lb higher in the Greatwood.
He has a lofty mark of 147 to contend with and a win here will put him right in the Champion Hurdle picture.
The Betfred Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock is sadly a shadow of former glory but that means the 117-rated Grand Geste must have a good chance.
Agonisingly reeled in at Newcastle last time out, the extra distance should bring out more in him.
Spartan Arrow can pick up a nice prize under the floodlights at Wolverhampton in the form of the Join The Midnite Movement Handicap.
Archie Watson’s five-year-old mixed it a good level last season, finishing second in the Dash at Epsom and picking up a Listed event at Chantilly.
A crack at the Nunthorpe was always going to be ambitious, but does at least give an indication of his progression and he reappeared in October to pick up a first Pattern race courtesy of a Group Three at Dundalk.
He is two from four on an artificial surface and just gets in this 0-105 contest with his mark of 104. – Press Association
SELECTIONS:
ASCOT: Race 1 – 14.40 Firefox, Race 2 – 15.15 Buzz Iceclear, Race 3 – 15.50 Issam, Race 4 – 16.25 Honesty Policy, Race 5 – 17.00 Johnnywho, Race 6 – 17.35 Alexei.
HAYDOCK: Race 1 – 13.45 North Parade, Race 2 – 14.20 Bill Joyce, Race 3 – 14.55 Saligo Bay, Race 4 – 15.30 Sunnyvilla, Race 5 – 16.05 Grand Geste, Race 6 – 16.40 Jackie Hobbs, Race 7 – 17.15 Super Survivor.
HEREFORD: Race 1 – 13.58 Buckna, Race 2 – 14.28 King Of Records, Race 3 – 15.03 Glengolly, Race 4 – 15.38 Daany, Race 5 – 16.13 Alfie’s Princess, Race 6 – 16.48 Loriko, Race 7 – 17.23 Scott’s Legacy.
NEWCASTLE: Race 1 – 17.10 Prince Achille, Race 2 – 17.47 Comic Strip, Race 3 – 18.20 Lope Harswell, Race 4 – 18.55 Beckon, Race 5 – 19.30 Midnight Lion, Race 6 – 20.00 Wyvern, Race 7 – 20.30 Counting Cards, Race 8 – 21.00 Yorkshire Glory.
THURLES: Race 1 – 13.37 Inthenickoftime, Race 2 – 14.12 Maciver, Race 3 – 14.47 Korinthia, Race 4 – 15.22 Magic Day, Race 5 – 15.57 Eliodam, Race 6 – 16.32 Boedic, Race 7 – 17.05 Some Song, Race 8 – 17.40 Baymount.
WOLVERHAMPTON: Race 1 – 18.05 Titian Blue, Race 2 – 18.40 Kokoluna, Race 3 – 19.15 Onyeisi, Race 4 – 19.45 SPARTAN ARROW (NAP), Race 5 – 20.15 Cannon Rock, Race 6 – 20.45 So Alex, Race 7 – 21.15 High On Hope, Race 8 – 21.45 Bomb Squad, Race 9 – 22.15 Neptune Street.
This article was originally published on TAB and is reposted here with permission.
Danie Toerien is a professional journalist with more than 25 years’ experience in mainstream media in South Africa. He is a specialist business and sports writer, focusing on horse racing for the last eight years. Danie specializes in racing predictions for some of the country’s leading daily newspapers like The Sowetan, The Citizen, and The Herald. Whenever time and budget allow, he enjoys travelling – especially to explore the countries with a history dating back to the Roman Empire.
