The Long Walk Hurdle is part of the BGC Family Raceday hosted at historic Ascot Racecourse every year in December. While the day's events are designed to entertain racegoers of all ages, the Long Walk Hurdle is all about thrilling even the most hardened jump racing fan. The Family Day is Ascot's richest day of jump racing, featuring a number of intense events culminating in the much anticipated Long Walk Hurdle. In keeping with the extravagant values attached to this meeting, the Long Walk Hurdle is at £100,000 the hurdling event with the greatest purse to be hosted at Ascot.
The race was established in 1965, but was run as a handicap race until 1971. It was not until 1990 that the Long Walk Hurdle obtained Grade 1 status. It runs over a distance of three miles and one furlong and covers fourteen hurdles. Entry to the Long Walk Hurdle is restricted to horses over the age of four.
Since 1971 the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot Racecourse has seen a number of high profile contenders, four of which have gone on to win the World Hurdle, a highlight of Cheltenham's spring races, in the season following their Long Walk triumph. This impressive feat was achieved by Derring Rose in 1980/1, Baracouda in 2001/2, My Way De Solzen in 2005/6 and Big Buck's in 2009/10.
The event is named after The Long Walk, which is local term for the famous tree-lined avenue in Windsor Great Park.
Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer |
2009 | Big Buck's |
6 | Ruby Walsh |
Paul Nicholls |
2008 | Punchestowns |
5 | Barry Geraghty |
Nicky Henderson |
2007 | Lough Derg |
7 | Tom Scudamore |
David Pipe |
2006 | Mighty Man |
6 | Richard Johnson |
Henry Daly |
2005 | My Way De Solzen |
5 | Robert Thornton |
Alan King |