14:25 Ascot Porsche Long Walk Hurdle Odds & Tips: Betway offer 2/1 odds on Thyme Hill – Saturday, 19th December 2020

One of the big races of the weekend is this one, the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.

It’s a cracker and a big 3 mile test at Grade 1.

There are 10 declared runners for this year’s renewal and at the time of writing, the head of the market is as tight as it gets between THYME HILL and PAISLEY PARK.

It’s a mouthwatering prospect seeing those two go up against each other.

The winner of last year’s Long Walk Hurdle was 8 year old The World’s End from a 15/8 SP (Adrian Heskin / T R George).

Long Walk Hurdle Odds

Thyme Hill 2/1
Paisley Park 2/1
Main Fact 5/1
Roksana 7/1
The Worlds End 16/1
Younevercall 20/1
The Ham Man 20/1
Thistlecrack 20/1
THird Wind 33/1
Portrush Ted 40/1
* (betting odds recorded at 04:31 GMT on Friday, 18th December 2020 at Betway)

Horse Racing Betting at Boylesports

Thyme Hill the 2/1 joint-favorite in Long Walk Hurdle odds

So heading into the race as a big threat is THYME HILL as the 2/1 joint-favourite* (betting odds recorded at 04:31 GMT on Friday, 18th December 2020 at Betway).

He has already been out this season, taking another improvement on a run at Newbury.

He got the better of Paisley Park in that contest on his reappearance run and that was his fourth win in his last five runs.

Thyme Hill, therefore, should enter calculations in this one without question.

He is a justifiable market leader for Long Walk Hurdle odds alongside Paisley Park.

It’s going to be another epic clash after that Long Distance Hurdle meeting three weeks ago. The difference here is that they are on level terms.

Can Paisley Park turn the tables on Thyme Hill?

PAISLEY PARK was giving some weight to Thyme Hill on their recent Newbury meeting in the Long Distance Hurdle.

But they are lining up level in this one and that should give him a great chance of reversing the form.

The are just obvious claims from such a great hurdler as the 2/1 joint favourite in Long Walk Hurdle betting* (betting odds recorded at 04:31 GMT on Friday, 18th December 2020 at Betway).

He has scored 8 of 13 runs over the obstacles and one of those was at course and distance.

This is right in his wheelhouse and that run at Newbury saw him back in prime form after having disappointed in trying to defend his World Hurdle crown at the Cheltenham Festival in the final run of the previous campaign.

Can Main Fact keep winning streak going?

Not to be totally written off against the big two is MAIN FACT who brings some remarkably hot form to the table.

He is coming up in class which is the only slight question mark over his ability to knock off the two front-runners.

But it is a nine-race winning streak that Main Fact is on, which is just remarkable.

Even more remarkable is that he has largely flown under the radar. He opened up this season with a win at Haydock on what was his first effort at a 3m trip.

That was on a return to the hurdles after three straight wins on the flat keeping him sharp and in great heart.

He has to be kept an eye on and from 5/1 place claims have to be there in Long Walk hurdle betting* (betting odds recorded at 04:31 GMT on Friday, 18th December 2020 at Betway).

Can Roksana push things further?

ROKSANA opened the season with a win.

That was in a Grade 2 contest at Westbury and so is not to be totally discounted from getting her nose in the frame.

She is a likeable sort and is usually at the business end of things.

Roskana closed out the last campaign with a fourth place finish at the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

She is unexposed at this trip however only having attacked it once before.

That was in this seasons’ appearance however which she won by 8 1/2 lengths over Next Destination.

Roksana is a savvy mare with place claims from a 7/1 quote* (betting odds recorded at 04:31 GMT on Friday, 18th December 2020 at Betway).

Does Thistlecrack have anything to offer?

Back in his day THISTLECRACK was one of the most recognisable and feared names around in chasing and hurdles.

He won this fixture back in 2015 but he has now been away for well over a year.

The last run he had was at Newbury in November 2019 when he found Paisley Park too good for him in a field of five. So that’s a long absence to overcome for the 12 year old.

He has collected 8 wins from 13 previous goes at the hurdles. But the stamina is a question mark here against some top-class current runners.

That’s reflected well in a 20/1 quote on Thistlecrack in Long Walk Hurdle odds* (betting odds recorded at 04:31 GMT on Friday, 18th December 2020 at Betway).

The Rest Of The Runners

PORTRUSH TED picked up a win on his reappearance run. That was 2 weeks ago at Sandown over the hurdles.

He actually hasn’t been beaten when completing a hurdles fixture. But he’s not the sharpest of jumpers and may find the going tough.

THE JAM MAN is heading into his fourth effort of the season. He scored on his penultimate race, a chase victory at Navan out of the blue.

He switched back to the hurdles at Haydock and put in a respectable run there, but this is a big ask at Grade 1.

Last year’s winner THE WORLD’S END is back for more. He was in great heart last season after making all in the 2019 renewal.

This field is a lot deeper than the one twelve months ago was and The World’s End has failed to complete in his last two.

He’s with Ollly Murphy for the first time and is 16/1 to double up on last year’s success* (betting odds recorded at 04:31 GMT on Friday, 18th December 2020 at Betway).

THIRD WIND needs a fair size chunk of improvement we think to get close in this one. He has had an encouraging return to action this year.

In his last effort he followed Main Fact home at Haydock. Third Wind is coming on in the longer trips, but likely not there yet to score.

YOUNEVERCALL was last seen 40 days ago at Kempton. He rattled the crossbar in that one, which was his first run since wind surgery.

Younevercall was beaten by a nose by Storm Goddess. But the 9 year old looks one of the better each way options from 20/1 as he’s a smart hurdler* (betting odds recorded at 04:31 GMT on Friday, 18th December 2020 at Betway).

Predictions & Tips for Long Walk Hurdle Odds

What a cracking line up we have in this one and topping the bill is the rematch between THYME HILL and the usually faultless PAISLEY PARK.

We are going with the latter to reverse form and pick up the win at 2/1 in Long Walk Hurdle odds* (betting odds recorded at 04:31 GMT on Friday, 18th December 2020 at Betway).

He had given 3lb to Thyme Hill in that Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle but now it is a level playing field as we think that’s a difference maker and we expect that to be the top two.

The presence of MAIN FACT who is on with a chance of an unbelievable 10-timer is fascinating but we think the step up in class will just ease him out of this.

So our other selection to really get in the mix is ROKSANA, a likeable mare who may have something to prove over 3m.

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