Grade 1 Winner Strong Leader Heads The Betting In The Coral Long Distance Hurdle

Not seen since winning the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree in April, Strong Leader makes his seasonal reappearance under Sean Bowen in Friday’s Grade 2 Coral Long Distance Hurdle. Four have been declared for the feature race on day one of the Coral Gold Cup meeting at Newbury Racecourse.

The Olly Murphy trained seven-year-old is currently a 10/11 chance with sponsors Coral in what will be his first run at Newbury. A proven stayer, he carries a penalty for his Grade 1 victory in the four-runner field having missed an initial target at Wetherby due to the ground.

Among his rivals include 2024 Coral Cup winner Langer Dan for the Skelton team. The eight-year-old was last seen when finishing second in the Grade 2 bet365 Select Hurdle at Sandown in April. Langer Dan will be stepping up in trip to 3 miles for the first time, starting the season off a mark of 160.

A 25/1 winner in the Pertemps Network Final at Cheltenham, Monmiral made his seasonal reappearance over course and distance in early November when finishing third. The Paul Nicholls trained seven-year-old, a Grade 1 winner as a four-year-old, will be partnered by Harry Cobden, a current 8/1 chance with sponsors Coral.

The outsider of the field, Flight Deck, trained by Deborah Cole, was third in the race last year when finishing two lengths behind Dashel Drasher. He dropped back to 2m5½f for his return run this season at Newton Abbot when finishing second in heavy conditions under regular jockey Chris Ward who will partner him once again on Friday.

Coral’s David Stevens commented on the entries: “Strong Leader is our odds-on favourite to see off his three rivals after he ended last season with a Grade One victory at Liverpool, with Langer Dan his closest market rival as he makes the step up to three miles for the first time.”