Mighty chance in Long Walk

Mighty Man, third is last season’s World Hurdle, is poised to take his chance in the BGC Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.

Henry Daly’s charge found Hardy Eustace too hot to handle over an inadequate trip on his seasonal reappearance in the Coral Ascot Hurdle last month.

Mighty Man, who lowered the colours of World Hurdle winner My Way De Solzen on his penultimate start, is now on course to return to long-distance racing in the Grade One event over three miles, one furlong.

“That (the Long Walk Hurdle) is plan A,” said Daly. “I’ve no idea what he’ll be up against but there is not a lot else I can run him in.

“It bucketed down the day before he ran at Ascot last timewhich didn’t help but it was only two miles, four furlongs and I’ve been very pleased with him since.

“I would be happier if we get better ground this time and if it’s softer, I would be less happy,” the Shropshire-based handler told the Racing Post.

Mighty Man was installed 11-10 favourite by Cashmans in the first show of prices on the race on Monday.

Paul Nicholls has yet to commit Long Walk second favourite Neptune Collonges, winner of the Rehearsal Chase last time out, to the £100,000 (€148,000) contest.

“I entered to have a look really,” he said.

“We were going for the Lexus Chase. We ran second last year and if it kept on raining it would be darn sight easier to run there than go all the way to Ireland, which was our first priority. You could say he is a possible, but not certain starter.”