'Flawless' Impose Toi continues perfect season with impressive success in Long Walk Hurdle

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Impose Toi continued his excellent season and established himself as Britain's best staying hurdler with an imperious win in the Grade 1 Howden Long Walk Hurdle.

Already successful at Aintree and Newbury for Nicky Henderson this campaign, the seven-year-old shrugged off a 6lb weight pull with his Long Distance Hurdle rival Strong Leader to record another strong-travelling success under Nico de Boinville.

Impose Toi took his customary hold-up position as last year's third Beauport carved out the early running in a packed field for the pre-Christmas highlight, but scythed through the pack and into fourth in the home straight.

Strong Leader was committed for home early in a bid to reverse recent form and it was not long before he and the Irish runner Honesty Policy dropped Potters Charm. However, they were soon shadowed ominously by Impose Toi and a clean leap at the final flight sealed a comfortable victory.

"We were wrong at the weights compared to the other day, so we had to improve," Henderson said. "I feel sorry for Strong Leader, who is an admirable horse, but we’ve nailed him twice – and if anything I think we looked more convincing today. 

"He just had a dream run around. He jumped and travelled; he was always going best from my point of view and it was quite pleasurable to watch. When you saw him going that well turning into the straight, you knew Nico had them covered. You’ve got to finish it off and execute it, but he was pretty flawless."

• Analysis: how is the Stayers' Hurdle division shaping up and is the market still underestimating Impose Toi? 

Impose Toi came close to Cheltenham Festival success when runner-up in the Coral Cup last season and was cut to a best-priced 8-1 (from 12) for the Stayers' Hurdle in March, with only Ballyburn and Teahupoo shorter in the market.

There is a chance Henderson's star stayer could be seen before then, with his idle nature not exclusive to the track nor conducive to hard fitness.

The trainer said: "The Long Walk is the established championship for the three-milers in the first part of the season and he’s put himself right in the picture, so I know what we’ve got to do next.

Impose Toi (green and gold, white cap) wins the Long Walk Hurdle from Strong Leader (left) and Honesty PolicyCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"He’s grown up a lot and kept improving. He’s a lovely character because he does absolutely nothing at home – you’d despair at him some mornings. If a horse finishes behind him at home you want to start worrying. It’s extraordinary, but now we know it's fine. He might want another run, I don't know, we’ll see."

If turning up in the Cleeve Hurdle on Cheltenham's Trials day, which was mentioned as a potential target on January 24, Impose Toi could face round three with Strong Leader, who held off the rallying Honesty Policy to finish second by a neck.

"It takes two to tango and there's a tiny part of me that's gutted but I'm so proud of the horse," said the runner-up's trainer Olly Murphy. "He's run a cracker and arguably a career best. We were beaten by a better one on the day and sometimes you just have to be man enough to say that. 

"This wasn't plan A and he was the highest-rated stayer in Britain before today. I suppose we have to look at the Stayers' Hurdle with him, but we'll go and have another go at the Cleeve and see how he gets on in that and then make our minds up."

Nicky Henderson, JP McManus, David Howden and Nico de Boinville after Impose Toi's win in the Long WalkCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Victory for Impose Toi gave Henderson the perfect boost in the build-up to a tense Boxing Day, with Jango Baie heading to a blockbuster King George and Sir Gino set to make his seasonal reappearance in the Christmas Hurdle. Alongside Impose Toi, they make an enviable team for the new year.

"It strengthens the squad," Henderson said. "It's nice, and it's about these big races. Whether it's Plumpton on a Monday or Ascot on a Saturday, they've got to do it and it's great when they can come here and do that in a Grade 1."

Very few will do it in such scintillating style.

Stayers' Hurdle (Cheltenham, March 12)
bet365: 5-2 Ballyburn, 3 Teahupoo, 8 Honesty Policy, Impose Toi, 14 Bob Olinger, 16 The Yellow Clay, 20 Kabral Du Mathan, 25 bar

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Analysis: how is the Stayers' Hurdle division shaping up and is the market still underestimating Impose Toi? 

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