Can a wind op help Strong Leader bounce back from 'deplorable run' in Cleeve Hurdle Crambo clash?

Had Strong Leader not run in the Long Walk Hurdle, for which he started 11-8 favourite, he would be chasing a hat-trick following authoritative wins at Aintree and Newbury.

He was widely heralded as Britain’s leading Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle hope after beating Monmiral by three and a half lengths in Newbury’s Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle on his penultimate start but he failed to make an impression at Ascot, trailing home 75 lengths behind Crambo.

“He ran deplorably at Ascot,” said trainer Olly Murphy. “We’ve had his wind done since, and I’m hoping that the smaller field will suit him. It seems he doesn’t want to go right-handed. Off his early-season form and what he showed at Aintree you’d say he’s the one they’ve got to beat on Saturday.

“It wouldn't surprise me if he ran very well, but you’re never sure after they run like he did at Ascot.”

Strong Leader finished third in the Cleeve Hurdle 12 months ago, and Murphy added: “If he reproduces that run he’ll win. There are plenty of positives, even though you couldn’t be confident.”

'Let's hope Crambo can answer questions'

Crambo maintained his 100 per cent record on his reappearances when landing the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot by a head from Hiddenvalley Lake.

That was the fourth consecutive season Crambo has scored on his first start, and he clearly goes particularly well fresh, but can he build on that performance?

His trainer Fergal O'Brien believes the talented eight-year-old can but acknowledges there are still some questions to answer as his representative was a well-beaten ninth in last year's Stayers' Hurdle on his only previous visit to Cheltenham.

“Crambo came out of his Ascot race very well," said O'Brien. “Everyone at home is happy with him. It looks like he’ll start favourite and I am hoping he has a favourite’s chance. A few of the others have questions to answer, but so does Crambo. Let’s hope he can answer them.”

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What they say

Gary Moore, joint-trainer of Botox Has
He'll only run if there's significant rain. He’s been a little bit out of form this season but hasn’t had his ground. It doesn’t look the toughest race in the world, so let’s hope for more rain.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Monmiral
He loves Cheltenham, as he showed when winning the Pertemps Final last year. He ran tidily when second to Strong Leader at Newbury in November and has a sporting each-way chance.

Ruth Jefferson, trainer of Kerryhill
I don’t think he’s a good-ground horse. He wants between good to soft and soft, which he should get on Saturday. He's run at Cheltenham, finishing fourth in a Grade 2 novice hurdle. Maybe, with some experience of the track, he’ll handle it a bit better this time and get a bit more luck. He’ll need it, though, as he’s got as many question marks as the others.

Jamie Snowden, trainer of Ga Law
He won the handicap chase at this meeting last year and finished second in the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November. He’s nudging up the weights over fences so we thought it was worth exploring going back over hurdles. I don’t want to run him on soft ground, though. They had a fair bit of rain at Cheltenham on Thursday night so we’ll have to see how much it dries out before letting him take his chance.

Gowel Road: second at Cheltenham on all four starts this seasonCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Willy Twiston-Davies, assistant to Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Gowel Road
He's ultra consistent and deserves to pick up one of these. The rain won't do any harm as he loves soft ground and he's very straightforwad. He's a trainer's dream, really. He deserves his chance in graded company.

Neil Mulholland, trainer of Transmission
He’s had a great season. He went to Cheltenham in October, November and December and finished second, first and second – all in chases. There are no real opportunities for him over fences so we thought we’d go back over hurdles at a track which he clearly loves. It will keep him sharp and sweet, and we’ll go back to fences next time.

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