Adam Williams presents his prediction for the Newbury Coral Long Distance Hurdle (Grade 2, 3m, 4yo+) horse racing event.
Langer Dan is set to tackle this distance for the first time, yet hopes are already high for his performance. He triumphed in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham last season and followed up with a close third in the Aintree Hurdle, just a short neck behind the winner. He has yet to make an appearance on the track this season.
Strong Leader ended last year on a high note, claiming victory in the Liverpool Hurdle. He also secured a close third in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham. The only blot on his record was a lacklustre showing in his season debut last year, where he finished last. However, that's been his only slip-up, making him a solid contender for the win at 9/4 on bet365.
Crambo won the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot, but his last two outings of the season at Cheltenham and Aintree didn't go according to plan. A break might do him good, and he's in with a chance to compete for a strong finish.
Dashel Drasher finished third in the 1965 Chase in November, losing the third spot to outsider Hidden Depths. He secured a win in the Long Distance Hurdle last season, but his performances at Cheltenham and Aintree were below expectations.
Beacon Edge ran during the summer, finishing fourth in a Listed event at Galway in August. He won the season debut bet365 Hurdle on 2 November, although it was against a smaller field. Competing in this race will be a tougher test for him.