The final Grade One before Christmas sees some of the best remaining hurdlers clash in the Long Walk at Ascot on Saturday, with Hereford, Newcastle and Wolverhampton also live Sky Sports Racing.
2.25 Ascot – Strong Leader & The Wallpark Title Grade 1 Field
Last year Howden Long Walk Hurdle (2.25) saw Greek beat old favorite Paisley Park in a thrilling battle, but seven-year-old Fergal O'Brien now faces even tougher competition 12 months later.
Olly Murphy's Strong Leader is very much seen as the new leader in this division after landing last season's Liverpool Hurdle and bounced back with victory over a long distance hurdle at Newbury last month.
The Wallpark, perhaps Ireland's next star to stay, has been on a remarkable run since July, winning four in a row, including when defying a 145 rating at Cheltenham in October. He is entering a rated company for the first time, but seems capable of better.
Crambo's best hopes may lie in his record when fresh, but he was well behind Strong Leader at Aintree in April.
It was the third day Hiddenvalley Lake for Henry De Bromhead, doc Kateira (Dan Skelton), Blueking d'Oroux (Paul Nicholls) and First shot (Charles Byrnes) certainly cannot be dismissed. Beauport, Botox Has and Eagle Fang complete the field.
Crambo and Paisley Park battle it out in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot 2023.
3.00 Ascot – Classic hunters Trelawne and Victtorino go head-to-head
Three miles Howden Silver Cup Handicap Chase (3.00) it looks like a competitive contest and has a defending champion Victorino.
Racer Venetia Williams is just 1lb heavier than last year and, having finished an excellent third in the Coral Gold Cup, will be considered to continue under Charlie Deutsch.
Kim Bailey dressed Trelawn he made a super seasonal appearance again when he saw off Iroko to land in the Graduate Chase at Haydock and rates the huge danger of this switch to handicap company.
The Changing Man ran a great race in defeat when second in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle on his last start and looking for a first chase success under Sam Twiston-Davies.
Victorino and Charlie Deutsch on their way to success in the Silver Cup at Ascot last year
3.35 Ascot – Be Aware & Dysart Enos meet again
Sharp competitive renewal of valuable Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle (3.35) represents second and third from Greatwood at Cheltenham last month.
Dan Skelton's Be aware he raced home Burdett Road when second on that occasion and this lightly raced five-year-old is the choice despite a 7lb weight gain.
Dysart Enos enjoyed a fantastic rookie campaign, winning all three starts and running with credit behind Be Aware at Cheltenham. Expected to improve due to that experience, he must be taken seriously with this 4lb higher rating.
Another of note is the winner of the Scottish Champion Hurdle Favor And Fortune and Paul Nicholls' unbeaten four-year-old Cabral Du Mathan.
Dystart Enos (right) races home Burdett Road at Greatwood
Watch all the races from Ascot, Hereford, Newcastle and Wolverhampton live on Sky Sports Racing on Saturday 21 December