Recent evidence suggests Unowhatimeanharry, rising ten years of age, is a declining force in the staying hurdlers division rather than the relentless improver of recent seasons.
He won this Grade 1 JLT Long Walk Hurdle last year as well as the stayers hurdle at Punchestown in the spring, but was well beaten when a very short favourite for the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival and was turned over by a 40/1 shot last time out.
Perhaps good ground was to blame at Cheltenham and conceding weight a viable excuse last time out, however both runs simply proved he’s not a dominant force in this division and is a rung below top-class.
In fairness, bookmakers have dangled a carrot with a 2/1 price tag and I think that’s perfectly fair for this year’s renewal of the Long Walk Hurdle, given his form at Ascot is strong and his overall profile is the best in the race – he’s certainly beatable though.
Lil Rockerfeller beat him in the big stayers race at Cheltenham in the spring but ‘Harry did reverse that comprehensively at Punchestown and Neil King’s horse was second in this last year, so the two are capable of beating each-other with ‘Harry leading the series.
Lil Rockerfeller won at Ascot first time out this season from L’AMI SERGE, who re-opposes under in-form Daryl Jacob.
L’Ami Serge conceded 6lb to the winner that day over a trip that’s arguably on the sharp side for both of them, so the step up to three miles should see both improve on that, their seasonal reappearances.
Back to level weights, and given L’Ami Serge’s trainer Nicky Henderson’s horses have improved bundles for their first runs this season, gives Daryl Jacob’s charge the edge and at 11/2 he’s a nice price.
He’s only ever raced over three miles once when he won the French Champion Hurdle earlier this year, which might not be the truest test of stamina given they don’t go much of a gallop in France, however he bolted up over two-miles-five at Sandown on the closing day of the British jumps season in the spring and wasn’t stopping at the line last time out either.
Stamina isn’t assured at this class but the ground is okay at Ascot, which will help, and he’s still unexposed as a stayer with every right to improve again rising eight-years-old, typically when stayers reach the peak of their powers.
There are a few five-year-olds making their first foray into open company Grade 1 races, with runaway Haydock winner Sam Spinner and Nicky Henderson’s Thomas Campbell stepping up from handicaps, while the six-year-old leading novice staying hurdler from last season, The World’s End, takes his chance too.
All three have plenty of improvement to find on ratings yet are generally available at single-digit odds, which all seem short to me in the face of proven Grade 1 form.
1pt win L’Ami Serge @11/2, 14:25 Ascot, Saturday
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