The 2023 Long Walk Hurdle winner CRAMBO hasn’t won a race since landing this Saturday’s big Ascot race 12 months ago – and despite his trainer Fergal O’Brien being upbeat about his title defence, he does have TWO key stats to overcome.
95% Of The Last 22 Long Walk Hurdle Winners Had Raced In The Last Two Months
It was a super-gutsy effort last season when the Fergal O’Brien-trained CRAMBO saw off Paisley Park – the three-time winner of the Long Walk Hurdle (watch below).
However, the horse was unable to back-up that performance after – running down the field in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and then finishing a poor 8th (of 10) in the Liverpool Hurdle.
With a horse (Strong Leader) he’s taking on again this Saturday winning that Aintree race.
Strong Leader is also expected to go off favourite with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK for the big weekend race.
Crambo Has Gone Well Fresh In The Past, But Still Has Big Ascot Stat To Overcome
Crambo hasn’t been seen since and despite his trainer Fergal O’Brien reporting one of his stable stars in top form – the Long Walk Hurdle trends tell us that a massive 21 of the last 22 winners had raced in the last seven weeks.
Yes, Crambo has a decent record fresh – he’s won first time out for the last two horse racing seasons.
However, it’s also worth pointing out that last year the horse had already raced twice before winning the Long Walk. He comes into the race having not run in 252 days.
“He looks great and has gone well first time out in the last couple of years,” said the trainer. “I think Strong Leader is going to take an awful lot of beating but we’ve got to turn up and try. He likes to be fresh, has done plenty of work and I’m not worried about it from a fitness side at all.” Fergal O’Brien told the Racing Post
WATCH: Crambo Winning The 2023 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot
Crambo Horse Profile
- Trainer: Fergal O’Brien
- Jockey: Jonathan Burke
- Runs: 12 (10 Hurdles)
- Wins: 7 (5 Hurdles)
- Career Winnings: £156,723
86% Of Winners Since 2002 Finished In The Top Three Last Time Out
In addition to falling down on not having had a recent run, Crambo also gets a negative with another Long Walk stats.
Which has favoured horses that came into the race off a top three finish last time out.
This is backed up with 19 of the last 22 winners recording a podium (top 3) finish in their most recent race.
But with Crambo only managing 8th last time, he’s also got this trend to overcome.
Long Walk Hurdle 2024 Race Info
📅Date: Saturday 21st December 2024
⌚Time: 2:25pm
🏇Racecourse: Ascot
🔄Trip: 3m 1/2f
💷Winning Purse: £71,188
📺 TV: ITV4 / Sky Sports Racing
Crambo Bids To Become The First ‘Back-to-Back’ Long Walk Hurdle Winner Since Reve De Sivola
If Crambo can defy these stats though, he’ll be cementing his name on the Long Walk Hurdle hall-of-fame with many other double winners of the race.
In recent times, prolific stayer Paisley Park landed this Ascot race three times – but none of these wins came in back-to-back campaigns. He won the prize in 2018, 2020 and 2022.
Therefore, to find the last horse to take the race on the bounce, you have to go back to Reve De Sivola. This Nick Williams-trained horse won three Long Walk Hurdles between 2012 and 2014.
Just before that, another top staying hurdler Big Buck’s also recorded a trio of wins – between 2009 and 2011.
But it’s Baracouda with four Long Walk Hurdle wins between 2000 and 2004 who holds the record as the most successful horse in the race.
2024 Long Walk Hurdle Runners
10 horses are confirmed for Saturday’s Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.
- Beauport
- Blueking d’Oroux
- Botox Has
- Crambo
- Eagle Fang
- Hiddenvalley Lake
- Kateira
- Shoot First
- Strong Leader
- The Wallpark
