Connections expecting big run from Long Walk longshot Eagle Fang

Eagle Fang is the longest priced of four Irish challengers for Ascot's Long Walk Hurdle on Saturday but connections are hopeful of a big run from the four-year-old who was well clear of the remainder when third behind Home By The Lee and Bob Olinger in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle at Navan last month. 

Oakley Brown, unable to utilise his 5lb claim as was the case at Navan, will be in the plate once again on Bill Durkan's charge who travelled this morning by ferry from Rosslare.

Assistant trainer Gary Bannon reports the Free Eagle gelding to be in great nick: "This race has been in the back of our minds since his run at Navan. He'd a very good run there behind two smart horses in the Lismullen and we always felt that going from two-and-a-half miles up to three miles would really suit him. Even in his juvenile season, we always felt that three miles would eventually be his trip and there's plenty of stamina on the dam's side of his pedigree.

"He's only four so it's going to be tough taking on the older horses but he came in this summer a lot bigger and stronger than he was last season and I think he'll be well able for the challenge on Saturday.

"I've spoken to the clerk of the course at Ascot and he told me that there's plenty of moisture in the ground and that it's lovely jumping ground at the minute. It's currently good to soft and every further drop of rain that comes will be a big advantage to us, although the same applies to some of the others too.

"He handles any ground as long as it's not quick and he's a good honest horse. He's tough and tries his heart out every day he goes out. He wouldn't be a wonderful work horse in the mornings but he seems to put it all together on the track.

"We didn't have had him wound up for his first run of the season at Punchestown, it was just a nice place to start. He bumped into Aspire Tower that day on ground that was probably quicker than the description and we knew he'd come forward from that run and that the extra distance, and the rising ground,  in the Lismullen would be a big advantage to him.

"Oakley felt he was getting going again late on at Navan even though the two in front of him stretched away. He said that he took a long time to pull up and that going up in trip again would suit him. 

"It's his first ride in a Grade 1 and his parents will be there, so it'll be a proud moment for his family.

"We're over the moon with our horse. Track and trip and ground will suit, we feel he's a bit over-priced and that he has a great each-way chance. Crambo was rated 142 when he won the race last year and we're on a similar mark now (141 in Ireland, 144 in UK). If he were to run well, we might look at something like the Cleeve Hurdle but he won't have a lot of racing this season, we'll look after him."

"It's a long time since Bill had a Grade 1 horse over jumps, you'd be going back to the time of Anaglogs Daughter. He puts a lot of trust in me and the Durkans are a lovely family. When Eagle Fang won at the Punchestown festival, I never saw a horse to win a novice hurdle and get a reception like it.

"Over the years, Bill's put a lot of money into this game, from sponsoring canteens to charities to the John Durkan Chase, and supporting stables and schemes for some of the kids from the housing estates around Cherry Orchard.  People like to see these colours winning and doing well. Bill won't be travelling to Ascot himself but some of his family will be there."

Regarding the stable's entries next week, Bannon added: "We've a couple of other nice horses to run over Christmas as well. Star Runner was a little bit disappointing at Navan but he's put that behind him and is in great form at home. He might go for the Grade 2 juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day.

"Laafi is another nice recruit that we bought off the Flat in England. He jumps well at home, loves soft ground and goes to Limerick also on the 26th.

"Bill Silvers is a high-class Flat horse who ran very well on his first start for us at the Galway festival. He'd a bad run back at Galway next time but had a dirty scope after it. We have the Lincoln in mind for him in the spring if the ground is soft, we feel he could be very well handicapped. He's fresh and well and we'll give him a couple of runs over hurdles in the meantime, he seems to enjoy jumping."