For a race that is used as a starting point for the best UK-staying hurdlers together, it’s a shame that it has only attracted four runners for this year’s edition.
But, the two at the top of the market are very interesting going forward, especially Langer Dan.
Here, I give you an in-depth preview of each runner, including what I know they can bring to the table and their positives and negatives.
You can also get the best online bookmakers to place your next winning horse racing bet.
Coral Long Distance Hurdle runner by runner betting guide
Now it’s time to take a in-depth look into runners of the Coral Long Distance Hurdle and the best horse racing bookmakers to help you make a winning bet.
1 Strong Leader
- Age: 7
- Weight: 11st 8lb
- Form: 02431-
- Rating: 158
- Jockey: Sean Bowen
- Trainer: Olly Murphy
- Odds: 1/1
Having started his hurdling career with a lot of promise, which saw him claim a second-place finish behind Inthepocket in the two-mile Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle at the Aintree Grand National Festival, you would be forgiven to think that he would be set for a promising career in the open company the following season.
But, just as quickly as he turned into a promising type on the back of his Grade 1 second, the gloss was taken off Strong Leader with a last of ten in the Welsh Champion hurdle on his first start on the open company.
But it was not until we saw him step up to three miles that he began to show some of his true potential.
A third behind Noble Yeates, when he stepped up in trip in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle, was when we finally saw Strong Leader show some of his true potential.
Trainer Olly Murphy skipped the Cheltenham Festival with Stong Leader and instead opted for the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle at the Aintree Grand National Festival.
It proved a wise move as Strong Leader put up a clear career best to pull away and win by over four lengths from Buddy One.
With the three-mile hurdling division in the UK looking as weak as it ever has, that win at Aintree puts Stong Leader at the top of the staying division in the UK.
With his trainer in good form and the weakness of the race, I would be disappointed if Stong Leader could not get the job done today.
Unexposed over this trip Grade 1 winner in open company
Can be let down by his jumping First run of the season
Star rating: 
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2 Langer Dan
- Age: 8
- Weight: 11st 6lb
- Form: 90132-
- Rating: 160
- Jockey: Harry Skelton
- Trainer: Dan Skelton
- Odds: 13/8
It’s fair to say that Langer Dan is the Marmite of the horse racing world. You are either a fan of Langer Dan or not, there is no in between
Some say that he has been expertly handled in how Dan Skelton has gotten two wins in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.
But there was no hiding his ability when third beaten in a photo-finish by Bob Olinger and Impaire Et Passe in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle.
He signed off for the season with a second behind Impaire Et Passe in the Grade 2 bet365 Select Hurdle at Sandown.
Now, here is where it gets interesting with Lanager Dan.
If you believe that he only shows his true form in the spring, then you would give him little chance of winning this.
His form figures first time out read 19636, and last season, he was beaten 49 lengths in the Pertemps Network Handicap on his first start of the season.
He won’t be sighted here if he runs anywhere near that level.
But how much of that do you want to believe this time around now, given that they will not be trying to protect his handicap mark for the Coral Cup?
Dan Skelton said in an interview with Nick Luck this week that Langer Dan “is not an easy horse in the autumn or winter” and “I know in the back of my mind that he is a better horse in the spring”.
If you want to take that word as the whole truth, and there is no reason why you shouldn’t, then you would give him little chance here.
I would advise extreme caution if you are considering backing Langer Dan here.
Showed top Grade 1 form at the end of last season
Has a terrible record first time out Is best in the spring
Star rating:
3 Monmiral
- Age: 7
- Weight: 11st 6lb
- Form: 4415-3
- Rating: 144
- Jockey: Harry Cobden
- Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- Odds: 8/1
Once a promising young hurdler who spent a few years in the doldrums, but out of the blue, he popped up at 25/1 to win the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival last season.
He made his comeback at the beginning of this month in a Pertemps qualifier, finishing third. He ran well for a long time, but his lack of race fitness showed.
The third-place finish guarantees him a place in the Pertemps Final at this season’s Cheltenham, but here is where the issue lies.
Will Paul Nicholls want to protect his mark for the season, or will he want to go and win what looks like a weak Grade 2?
I believe it is the former, and they have one eye firmly set on Cheltenham.
If Monmial is there with a chance coming to the last, then they may well give it a proper go.
But, as we have seen year in and year out, it’s a long road to Cheltenham, where a horse like Monmiral has one target and one target only: the Cheltenham Festival.
He’s currently off 144, and I am sure that they will want that mark to come down for the Pertempts Final this March.
Monmiral should run well for a long way but is unlikely to win.
Has race fitness on his side He has the ability to threaten
Likely to have an eye on the Cheltenham Festival
Star rating:
4 Flight Deck
- Age: 10
- Weight: 11st 2lb
- Form: 70-052
- Rating: 132
- Jockey: Chris Ward
- Trainer: Deborah Cole
- Odds: 33/1
It is tough to see Flight Deck getting seriously involved here.
Although he did run well on his seasonal comeback to finish second to Catch Him Derry at Newton Abbot, but based on their clashes last season, he has a mountain to climb with Stong Leader and Mommiral.
He has 40 lengths to find with Monmiral from their meeting in the Pertemps Final when conceding two pounds, and he also has over 20 lengths to find with Strong Leader from their meeting in the Cleeve Hurdle.
He may well be the pace of the race, but it’s only a matter of how far he can take them before he fades away.
Has race fitness on his side
Has been comprehensively beaten by Mommiral and over 20 lengths behind Stong Leader
Star rating:
Coral Long Distance Hurdle verdict
Given the question marks over his two main rivals, it’s hard to get away from STRONG LEADER here.
Lander Dan has shown that he is a much better horse in the spring, and Monmirals connections will have an eye on the Pretmps Final this March.
If Strong Leader is to have any claims in a Stayers Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, he needs to be beating his three rivals today.
About the author
Andrew Halligan
My name is Andrew Halligan, horse racing pundit and founder of YouTube’s The Finishing Line Podcast. Horse racing is a thrilling spectacle that captivates audiences around the world with its blend of drama and excitement. Whether you’re a jumps or flat fan, I will use my experience of working within the horse racing industry to bring the best of what this sport has to offer.
You can follow Andrew on X (@Halligan88).
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