Impose Toi out to confirm Long Walk form in Cleeve

Impose Toi bids to cement his status as Britain’s leading staying hurdler in the Pertemps Network Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

A smart handicapper last season, the JP McManus-owned eight-year-old has taken his game to another level so far this term, with a comeback victory at Aintree followed by a couple of major wins in this division in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and the Long Walk at Ascot.

He is a best-priced 5-1 for the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, putting him third in ante-post lists behind Gordon Elliott’s pair of Teahupoo and Honesty Policy, and trainer Nicky Henderson is hoping he can continue his foot-perfect campaign by claiming another victory at Prestbury Park.

“I’ve been a tad surprised this season, but he has been at two and a half miles the whole time and I think going up to three is what has really helped him,” said the Seven Barrows handler.

“You can ride him cold now, whereas before we used to jump him out as we thought that’s how we needed to ride him, then he would drop himself out and have to come from behind.

“Now we just say you may as well start from behind and wait. Nico (de Boinville) was perfect on him at Ascot and has ridden him beautifully all season.”

Henderson also saddles Doddiethegreat, who finished fourth behind Impose Toi at Newbury and fifth at Ascot.

He added: “Doddie has been very difficult to place because he had a terrific season last season, winning the Pertemps Final and then going close at Punchestown. His handicap mark is now taking him out of handicaps and there’s a huge amount of prize-money available in these races.

“He’ll be competitive and one day he will win one. He’s been running very well in the others.

“He’s running for the Doddie Weir Foundation and our job is to win races, but he will win more money getting placed in these than not running into the money in a handicap.”

Olly Murphy’s Strong Leader had to settle for second behind Impose Toi at both Newbury and at Ascot and while he has previously failed to show his best on the undulations of Cheltenham, the Warren Chase handler is prepared to head to the Cotswolds once again.

“We’re running to see how he handles Cheltenham again,” said Murphy.

“We know know he’s not been at his best there in the past, but there are very few other options for him, he’s in very good form and there’s loads of prize-money on offer.

“He ran an absolute belter in the Long Walk, it was probably a career-best.

“While Impose Toi could be hard to beat, I’d love to eyeball him at the top of the straight and have a proper ding dong as he’s been given two very good rides to beat us the last twice.”

In contrast to Strong Leader, Emma Lavelle’s Ma Shantou has relished his visits to Prestbury Park and the dual course winner now steps out of handicap company to put Stayers’ Hurdle aspirations to the test in a race the stable have enjoyed notable success in with the great Paisley Park in recent years.

Lavelle said: “He looks great, he’s fresh and squealing coming back from his work and I’m really happy with how he is.

“I think we’ll learn a bit more about him. We know he loves the track and this will tell us if he’s a Stayers’ Hurdle horse or we have to drop back to handicaps for the Pertemps Final.

“When I look through his form, it does make me think he is slightly better on slightly nicer ground, but we could be unfounded on that and it was pretty tacky and hard work the day he won at Windsor last year and he handled that fine.

“If the ground was good to soft I feel I could definitively answer the question, is he improving enough to run him in a Stayers’ Hurdle or is he a Pertemps horse? There might just be a doubt after Saturday because of the ground, but then again he’s as hard as nails and could easily go and prove me wrong.”

Last year’s winner Gowel Road is back to defend his crown and Willy Twiston-Davies, who trains the 10-year-old alongside his father Nigel, said: “He looks in really good nick at home and while we’re up against it on ratings, I think he can outrun his odds and put in a bold show.

“It’s one of his Gold Cups for the year, whereas some of the others may be aiming for bigger days at the Festival and what not.

“He ran well in the Relkeel last time (finished fourth) and the extra trip on Saturday will suit.”

Fergal O’Brien’s Kamsinas completes a field of six.