Coral Long Distance Hurdle: Marie’s Rock odds-on for Newbury win

The Jeremy Scott-trained Dashel Drasher (7/2) finished third behind Botox Has on his first run back this season in the Grade 2 bet365 Hurdle over three miles on soft ground.

The proven stayer (pictured above) had to settle for runner-up spot on four occasions last season. Only once previously has he faced Marie’s Rock when finishing six lengths second on New Year’s Day at Cheltenham.

He has however finished ahead of 3/1 shot Paisley Park in their last two meetings. With regular jockey Aidan Coleman recovering from injury, the Emma Lavelle-trained 11-year-old will be ridden by Tom Bellamy on Friday.

Bellamy has partnered Paisley Park once previously in the Long Walk Hurdle and is relishing the opportunity to get back on board.

“I’m very much looking forward to getting the leg up on Paisley Park, he is obviously in the twilight of his career now but he won a Grade 1 last season so there is fire still in the belly,” he said.

“I’ve had a good chat with Aidan already so all the preparations are done, he seems in good form, it’s a big task but we are very much looking forward to it.”

Also in the Coral Long Distance Hurdle line-up is the Paul Nicholls-trained Hugos New Horse, who was last seen finishing down the field at Cheltenham at his first attempt over three miles in October.

Purchased for only £5,000 at the Tattersalls Ascot June sales, the Deborah Cole-trained Flight Deck will be having his first run in Grade 2 company. The nine-year-old will be ridden by conditional jockey Chris Ward.

He finished third in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham in October at odds of 66/1 in his first run for a new yard having previously been a five-time winner for JP McManus and Jonjo O’Neill.

The outsider in the Coral Long Distance Hurdle odds is Mahons Glory, who will be having his first run for the Patrick Neville yard having moved from Dr Richard Newland’s.

Coral’s Lewis Knowles commented on the runners: “Although the race has attracted a relatively small field, there is no shortage of quality in there with Marie’s Rock, Paisley Park, and Dashel Drasher all bringing Grade 1 form to the table.

“Nicky Henderson’s mare heads our betting at 5/6, and she should take all the beating in receipt of weight from each of her rivals.”

Coral Long Distance Hurdle betting odds

5/6 Marie’s Rock

3/1 Paisley Park

7/2 Dashel Drasher

20/1 Flight Deck

33/1 Hugos New Horse

66/1 Mahons Glory

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All odds and markets correct as of date of publication