BGC Long Walk Hurdle betting tips

The BGC Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday is a fascinating contest and one which should see the Henry Daly-trained Mighty Man resume winning ways after a fine effort in defeat at the Berkshire venue on his seasonal reappearance last month. The six-year-old ran a cracking race in the contest in question, the valuable Coral Ascot Hurdle, for although he was comprehensively outpointed by Hardy Eustace, he was attempting mission impossible trying to give that rival 8lb over an inadequate trip (2m 3½f) . Back over his optimum distance of three miles on Saturday - and with the drying underfoot conditions very much in his favour - the son of Sir Harry Lewis should have the measure of these rivals, although I think a best-priced evens (Paddy Power). Mighty Man finished third behind My Way de Solzen in last season's World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, but exacted revenge on that rival when running out a seven-length winner of the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree a month later, confirming that he is indeed one of the best staying hurdlers in the business. Blazing Bailey felt the wrath of another leading stayer at Cheltenham last time when given a once-over by the outstanding Black Jack Ketchum. However, Alan King's charge deserves plenty of credit as he ran an honourable race in defeat, and shaped as though this trip would be within his compass. Although betting indicates otherwise, I see Blazing Bailey and Irish Wolf, both priced at around 9/1, as bigger threats to the selection that Neptune Collonges, who is available at 7/2 with Paddy Power. Paul Nicholls' charge is smart, don't get me wrong, but I think he'll be readily outpaced on this drying surface. The French import, who chased home My Way de Solzen in this race at Chepstow last term, has made a successful transition to fences this season, landing the Rehearsal Chase latest having found Our Vic too strong on his debut over the larger obstacles in the UK on his reappearance. However, this will be the fast surface that the five-year-old has encountered to date. He has appeared well suited by testing conditions in the past so while there's a chance he might handle better going, I don't think he'll have the pace and tactical speed to cope with the likes of Mighty Man. Irish Wolf has made giant strides already during the current campaign, and appears to be getting better with every race. He made Welsh National favourite Halcon Generlardais dig deep in a very competitive handicap at Haydock before giving the top-class Inglis Drever a real fight in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury. Admittedly, Peter Bowen's charge had a distinct fitness edge over Inglis Drever and was in receipt of 8lb, but he was nicely clear of the rest and failing by just a neck to lower the colours of that illustrious rival was no mean feat regardless of the circumstances. This improving six-year-old looks sure to go well. Fire Dragon has the ability to go well if on song, although he is relatively exposed while No Refuge, a former winner of the Sun Alliance Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, has failed to progress in this sphere and he so often ruins his chance with sloppy hurdling. Verdict - 5pts Mighty Man @ 4/5 (Paddypower)