Super six: assessing the contenders for Friday's Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury

The two-day Coral Gold Cup meeting gets off to a flying start with the highly competitive Long Distance Hurdle (3.05) to get your teeth into on the opening day.

Top-class stayers will go toe-to-toe on Friday afternoon with Paisley Park looking to bounce back to form and win the contest for a second time. Here, we assess the chances of the elder statesman, and look at the five contenders who are bidding to defeat him...

Proschema

Form 2F-371

Strengths One of the youngest of the line-up, Proschema arrives on the back of a career-best performance in The West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby, where he quickened clear on the run-in and had the reopposing Thomas Darby ten lengths back in second. The seven-year-old has run well on all three of his completed starts at around three miles and is open to the most improvement.

Weaknesses It's hard to knock him after that last run but unlike a lot of the field, Proschema hasn't had any Grade 1 experience, which can count against him in this high-quality affair. He will need another career-best under his penalty if others show their best form.

Odds 9-4

What they say

Dan Skelton, trainer (after Wetherby win): "That was a very high quality performance and I couldn't be more delighted with the team. That's a brilliant result for Proschema I'll probably go to Newbury with him now and keep him away from heavy ground - he's a million to one for the Long Walk and he'd be a zillion to one for the Cleeve. We'll look at Cheltenham and Aintree."

Champ

Form /1243-

Strengths Having been pulled-up in the Gold Cup, Champ reverted to hurdles last season and his reappearance was his best run, defeating Thyme Hill, Paisley Park and Thomas Darby in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot. As the highest-rated runner in the field Champ warrants plenty of respect and he's a three-time Grade 1 winner in this sphere. Fresh might be the best time to catch him.

Champ: won last year's Long Walk HurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

Weaknesses He didn't seem to progress after his emphatic return and finished behind Paisley Park in the Cleeve Hurdle and again in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham. He is one of the older horses in the race and it wouldn't be a shock should one or two prove too good.

Odds 5-2

What they say

Nicky Henderson, trainer (stable tour): "He was impressive in the Long Walk last term. He didn't go on as we'd have liked but I'm hopeful he can threaten the top of the staying hurdle tree. He was, after all, hardly disgraced when making the frame in the Cleeve, Stayers' and Liverpool Hurdles after that success. He came back from JP's stud looking magnificent and has had more work done on his back."

Paisley Park

Form 3313-5

Strengths This staying star needs no introduction having won the Stayers' Hurdle, Long Walk Hurdle and three Cleeve Hurdles in his illustrious career - as well as this race in 2019. Paisley Park showed he still had what it takes to win when giving Champ and the rest of the field a 20-length head-start in last season's Cleeve Hurdle before going past them all and drawing clear after the last. He is known for his late surging runs and there are not many better staying hurdlers when he is on a going day.

Paisley Park: will likely require softer underfoot conditionsCredit: Grossick Racing

Weaknesses He's not the force of old and has a tendency to start slowly and hit flat spots, which has cost him on a few occasions including in last season's Stayers' Hurdle. He will probably need conditions to be slower than looks likely and would find it hard to showcase his talents on a quick surface.

Odds 7-2

What they say

Emma Lavelle, trainer: "Touch wood, he seems to be really well. He went to the beach in Wales on Sunday just for a change of scenery for a day out, and really enjoyed it. He seems to be in really good order. Aidan [Coleman, jockey] schooled him the other day and he went beautifully over them, which was lovely to see. We're really looking forward to getting him back on track again."

Dashel Drasher

Form 312P-1

Strengths As a Grade 1-winning chaser, Dashel Drasher is by far the most interesting candidate upped to three miles for the first time. He has won his last six starts over hurdles, including a game performance when returning to that sphere on his reappearance this month. He is open to all sorts of improvement over hurdles.

Weaknesses He is completely untested at this level and has 8lb and 9lb to find with Paisley Park and Champ respectively. All of his wins have come on ground which is described as soft or heavy, which is far from what the surface could be on Friday and he has never raced over a trip this far.

Odds 4-1

Thomas Darby

Form 14P4-2

Strengths Since stepping up to this sort of trip, Thomas Darby has shown himself to be a class horse in the staying division and put up a brilliant display to land this race last year, finishing more than eight lengths ahead of Paisley Park. He reappeared in The West Yorkshire Hurdle, just as he did last year, which would have put him spot on for a repeat bid here. He is also one of the only runners that won't mind if the ground is good.

Thomas Darby: last year's winner returns for a repeat successCredit: Edward Whitaker

Weaknesses His final two runs last season were disappointing with him being pulled up in the Rendlesham Hurdle, before finishing 22 lengths behind the leader in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree. He was firmly put in his place by Proschema at Wetherby last time and being one of the older brigade, he needs to prove he still has what it takes.

Odds 5-1

Olly Murphy, trainer: "He's in good form, but we're hoping that the forecast rain does arrive as I would like it to be a little bit easier than watered, good ground. He came out of Wetherby well and we're looking forward to running him. It looks a competitive race, but hopefully he'll be able to defend his crown from last year."

Tea Clipper

Form 444-23

Strengths He is a proven stayer at the trip which could aid his improvement now returned to hurdles having been successful over fences. He's run a couple of cracking races since reappearing, pushing the one-time classy Peregrine Run close at Chepstow before finishing third in the London Gold Cup. He is still unexposed over hurdles and the longer trip may be what he needs.

Weaknesses He is the lowest rated runner in the field by some distance and has upwards of 10lb to find with every horse. He was unable to win handicaps off this mark before he went chasing so it would be a surprise if he is up to winning a Grade 1, especially considering the level of opposition he is likely to face.

Odds 20-1

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