Long Walk Hurdle – Unowhatimeanharry needs top form to win consecutive renewals
Harry Fry believes Unowhatimeanharry will need to be at his peak to achieve a successful defence of the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.
HARRY FRY believes Unowhatimeanharry will have to bounce back to his very best if he is to retain his crown in the JLT Reve De Sivola Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.
The nine-year-old dominated the staying division last season, winning four of his five starts with his only failure a below par run when finishing third in the SunBets Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Although he made a winning return in a small field contest at Aintree, the JP McManus-owned gelding suffered a surprise defeat to 40-1 chance Beer Goggles in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury last month.
Fry believes he will have to be back at his best to become just the fifth horse in the history of the Grade One to win the prize more than once.
Fry said: "He has come out of Newbury well and I've been happy with him at home.
"I was naturally disappointed to get beat at Newbury, but I think credit where it is due goes to Richard Johnson who gave a fantastic ride to Beer Goggles and we were not quite up to giving 6lb away.
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"He never does more than he has to and that has been part of his success, in that he keeps a bit up his sleeve.
"Any Grade One race is hard to win and he will have to be at his best, but the signs at home are encouraging that he will do himself justice."
Neil King is hopeful that the tenacious Lil Rockerfeller can back up his recent Grade Two success at the track by going one better than 12 months ago.
King said: "He goes there in terrific form and we are looking forward to running him. He has bounced out of his last race and has really thrived on it.
"Stepping back up will be more in his favour, as three miles will suit much better than two and a half.
"None of these races are easy, but he has beaten them before. It will be a tough race, but he is in good form."
Sam Spinner is to tackle Grade One company for the first time after turning a Grade Three handicap at Haydock on bottomless ground into a procession.
His trainer Jedd O'Keeffe said: "It was a demolition job at Haydock. It didn't shock me that he won after how well he ran at Chepstow, but it did surprise me how far he won (17 lengths).
Templegate's Treble
NAP 11.55 Ayr - Cool Mix: 'Progressed well this season and today’s track promises to suit him better'
NEXT BEST 2.15 Ayr - Lough Derg Jewel: 'Looked a natural over fences when winning on his chase debut'
TREBLE 1.45 Uttoxeter - Glenforde:'His first try at chasing wasn’t bad and this is an easier task'
"I've been 100 per cent happy since Haydock and his training has gone absolutely perfectly since then. He is in great shape, whether he is good enough remains to be seen.
"We have a bit to find with Unowhatimeanharry if he runs to his mark, but he has got improvement in him and I'm hoping the extra furlong and a half will bring it out."
Seven Barrows trainer Nicky Henderson will be double handed with both L'Ami Serge and Thomas Campbell as he bids to win the race for the first time since Punchestowns in 2008.
Henderson said: "They have both got to run - L'Ami obviously has to, as that is where he belongs, and Thomas Campbell we have got to find out if that is where he belongs.
"L'Ami Serge is in great form and is really good at home. The step up will help L'Ami as he has won over three and a quarter in France so he will be strong at the finish."
Tom George expects to see The Worlds End step forward from his seasonal return at Haydock as he looks to claim a second success at the top level.
The Slad handler said: "I think we can put a line through the last run and move on. He won't have lost his way.
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"The ability is still there and he is a young horse. He is still improving. He has still got the novice chase option if it didn't go right next time, but I see no reason why he shouldn't come back to form.
"There is no reason at all why he shouldn't be back to where he was last season."
The Nick Williams-trained Agrapart, Jonjo O'Neill's Taquin Du Seuil and Gary Moore's Ubak complete the field.
