Long Walk Hurdle with Atamane

the Long Walk Hurdle is in theory the main feature of Ascot´s glittering card today and the Grade one event over 3 miles 1 furlong at 15.10 CET has attracted most of the U.K.´s top staying hurdlers. It has also attracted a rare German runner, Mario Hofer´s Atamanane, who has two excellent runs at Auteuil to his credit. However this opposition looks even stronger than in Paris, and the drying ground is not in his favour. Jamie Moore (who fell off Fiepe´s Shuffle the last time he rode a German horse in a big British race) has been booked and we must hope for better luck, but realistically, Atamane faces a very stiff task. Nicky Henderson has a strong hand here with Duc de Regnieres (Tony McCoy), who defeated several of these 3 weeks ago at Newbury, and impressive Cheltenham winner Punchestowns (Barry Geraghty), while 2007 winner Lough Derg (David Pipe/ Tom Scudamore) and Pettitfour (Nigel Twiston-Davies/ Paddy Brennan), now much better off at the weights, are others to consider .

Betting forecast:
1.Race: My Petra - Gwanako - Pur De Sivola
2.Race: Trabolgan - Oedipe - Eric`S Charm
3.Race: Binocular - Crack Away Jack - Katchit
4.Race: Punchestowns - Duc De Regniere - Blazing Bailey
5.Race: Aigle D`Or - Numide - Ashkazar
6.Race: Edgbriar - Barnhill Brownie - I`M The Decider
7.Race: Red Harbour - Larks Lad - Pearlysteps