Tag Archive for: Charlie Longsdon

Longsdon hoping for the best with ‘improving’ Guetapan Collonges

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Guetapan Collonges may be one of the favourites for for Saturday’s Boulton Group Midlands Grand National – but trainer Charlie Longsdon is worried that the race may come too early in his career.

The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old has won four of his eight starts over fences and will be reunited with Jonjo O’Neill Jr, who steered him to victory at Warwick in November.

Subsequently a fine fourth to Iwilldoit in the Classic Chase at that same track over a testing three miles and five furlongs, he bounced back to winning ways under Brian Hughes at Uttoxeter last month.

Four and a quarter miles in likely soft ground will be a step into the unknown for both himself and many of his rivals, but Longsdon feels he should cope.

“He is still an improving horse and you’d think this type of race would suit him,” said the Oxfordshire-based handler.

“It is in the back of my mind that in a year’s time he might be better, because he would be a bigger, stronger horse. He is still quite a weak horse.

“I know he is at the top of the market, but he has still got to reverse form with the likes of Iwilldoit.”

Having already won a Welsh Grand National and a Classic Chase, the Sam Thomas-trained Iwilldoit must carry the burden of 12st, whereas Guetapan Collonges has a more attractive weight of 10st 5lb.

Longsdon added: “He has a nice weight and he is certainly the type who will do well in races in the future.

“He ran lovely and learned a lot at Warwick. This is another step up and it will be soft ground, which he will like.

“He has still got to stay four miles and two (furlongs), which will be tough for anyone.

“The horse is improving and he will be a nicer horse next year. I hope he could be a Grand National horse in the future – he certainly looks that kind of horse.”

The Two Amigos bids to back up his Coral Welsh National success
The Two Amigos bids to back up his Coral Welsh National success (David Davies/PA)

The Two Amigos gave Nicky Martin the biggest success of her training career when lifting the Welsh National at Chepstow over Christmas following a string of consistent performances in staying handicaps.

Although only eighth in this contest in 2021, Martin feels the 11-year-old’s chance are improving with every drop of rain that falls.

She said: “Fingers crossed, I hope it keeps raining. He’s in good form and as long as it keeps raining, he’ll be fine. He loves these sort of races.

“He is in good order and he’s quite big odds for what I’d thought he’d be.”

French Paradoxe could have won his last five chases, according to his traine
French Paradoxe could have won his last five chases, according to his trainer (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

French Paradoxe hopes to give the Mick Fitzgerald Racing Club syndicate owners another day to remember.

The eight-year-old is three from six over the larger obstacles and scored with some ease at Newcastle on is last run in January for trainer Oliver Signy.

“Now the rain has come, we are looking forward to it,” said the Upper Lambourn handler.

“We think it is a big advantage. It is going to be a gruelling test, but at Newcastle he was easing down after they had gone a strong gallop to start with. Hopefully, he will be there or thereabouts.

“He should have won his last five chases but obviously he fell twice at Ffos Las and it didn’t go according to plan.

“Otherwise, he has worked very well. Gavin (Sheehan) has been very pleased with his schooling and while he hasn’t been over this trip before, with everything he has done, you’d hopefully expect him to get the trip.”

Secret Reprieve looks to regain the form that saw him win the Welsh National
Secret Reprieve looks to regain the form that saw him win the Welsh National (David Davies/PA)

Secret Reprieve seeks a first success since winning the delayed Welsh National of 2020 for trainer Evan Williams and owner William Rucker in January of 2021.

The lightly-raced nine-year-old has shown more like his old form in a couple of races this term, finishing well when second to Farinet at Chepstow in early December and latterly when a staying-on third to Rapper at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

Williams says he still needs to see more to become the horse he thought he always promised to be, however.

“He hasn’t shown any form like when he won the Welsh National. We are just hoping he can recapture that form,” he admitted.

“He looked to be showing more of his spark last time, but we just need to be moving on a bit from there, don’t we?

“Fingers crossed we can. I have no reason why he hasn’t done what we had hoped. We can only think he put a lot into that Welsh National win.

“We have 100 per cent always thought he was a Grand National horse, but you’d have to say that we are long way from where we thought we’d be – there’s no doubt in that.

“I thought we could have sprung forward, but we haven’t. There we are, we’ll have a go on Saturday and see where we are.”

Longsdon keen on Edition’s Supreme claims

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Charlie Longsdon retains full faith in Rare Edition and believes he has a genuine each-way chance in the curtain-raising Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

The six-year-old won his only bumper and his first three novice hurdles, including a convincing victory over subsequent Dovecote winner Rubaud at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Longsdon had hoped he would rubber stamp his Cheltenham claims in the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon last month, but he was turned over at a short price by Fergal O’Brien’s Marble Sands.

“I think Rare Edition’s probably the best novice hurdler we’ve trained to date and he really does have a good each-way chance in the Supreme,” Longsdon told Betdaq.

“We’ve drawn a line through his run in the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon, but his run at Kempton on Boxing Day was very good and the form looks strong.

“I think we’ve got him back to the right form now and if he can run up to the form we know he’s capable of, I think he’ll definitely be knocking on the door.”

Longsdon has yet to taste glory at the Festival, coming closest with Pendra who was beaten less than in length in the 2017 Kim Muir, and he admits it is a scratch he needs to itch.

“It’s a sore point, not having had a Cheltenham Festival winner. It’s been a topic of conversation leading up to the Festival every year. It’s slightly different this year in the fact that we’ve actually got horses that might have a little bit of a chance,” he said.

Joining Rare Edition on the trainer’s Cheltenham team is Hector Javilex and Glimpse Of Gala in the Pertemps, Snow Leopardess in the Glenfarclas Chase and possibly Guetapan Collonges in the Kim Muir, though he may wait for the Midlands National at Uttoxeter.

Cheltenham run not ruled out for Rare Edition

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Rare Edition is reported to have scoped dirty following his second in the Sidney Banks, but Charlie Longsdon is willing to let him take his chance in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle providing he works well prior to the Cheltenham Festival opener.

The six-year-old won his first three outings over timber in impressive fashion and was sent off the 4-5 favourite to extend his winning run at Huntingdon last week.

Forced to make his own running in a muddling three-runner affair, he failed to pick up in his usual manner when challenged by Fergal O’Brien’s Marble Sands, who took advantage of Rare Edition’s off day to scoop the Listed prize.

Having not shown his usual zest, Longsdon is now keen to give him a thorough MOT before building up to the Festival – where the gelding will drop back to two miles if his homework sends out the correct signals.

“Rare Edition, he’s fine,” said Longsdon. “He didn’t scope quite clean after the race and I will get him investigated properly next week.

“I take nothing away from the winner because he’s a good horse, but he didn’t pick up like he usually does. Whether a muddling race didn’t suit him I don’t know, but a proper pace where he can sit in behind, he’ll jump better. He was looking around and everything and it just didn’t work.

Rare Edition ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies goes on to win the at Kempton on Boxing Day
Rare Edition ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies goes on to win the at Kempton on Boxing Day (John Walton/PA)

“He’ll be fine and if he works well before Cheltenham, he’ll go to Cheltenham. He’ll stick at two miles – a strongly-run two miles will be fine.

“I’m not too concerned (about the defeat), I just want to make sure he’s all right as he just looked a bit flat.

“We’ve still got four weeks (until Cheltenham) and I’ll get him properly checked over at the beginning of next week. We’ll just see and I’ll get him out in the field as much as possible – he will be all right.”

Meanwhile Longsdon is eyeing a return to Uttoxeter for the Midlands Grand National with Guetapan Collonges following the seven-year-old’s victory over Mister Coffey at the Staffordshire track on Saturday.

“He ran really well and he learnt a lot from running at Warwick,” continued Longsdon.

“He learnt a ton and therefore he was more streetwise for this. He was a baby in the Classic Chase and it was the making of him at Warwick.

“I would love to go back to Uttoxeter for something like a Midlands National, but I will leave that to Frank (Berry) and JP (McManus) and let them decide.

“He’s going the right way. I said after the Classic Chase he was a bit too weak at the moment, but he’s learning the whole time.”

Longsdon ‘delighted’ after Snow Leopardess’ Cheltenham spin

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Charlie Longsdon’s Snow Leopardess has Cheltenham and Haydock options after her pleasing cross country debut.

The mare gained herself plenty of fans last season when claiming three successive victories that included the Becher Chase at Aintree and the Virgin Bet Mares’ Chase at Exeter.

Heading into the Grand National as a 10-1 chance as a result, Snow Leopardess was pulled up in the big race and then struggled hit last season’s form when starting out this term.

Longsdon decided to give the grey a run over Cheltenham’s cross country track to see if that could bring about an improvement and the 11-year-old seemed to take to the task well last Saturday.

Snow Leopardess at Haydock
Snow Leopardess at Haydock (Mike Egerton/PA)

Leading into the final bend after a solid round of jumping, Snow Leopardess faded slightly up the hill to finish an eventual sixth but still impressed enough to gain herself an entry for the Cheltenham Festival version of the race.

“I was delighted with her run at Cheltenham. It was her first time over those fences and she was a bit slow over a couple and looked at a few but she did seem to love it,” Longsdon said.

“She had I great time I think. If you rode her round again, you’d probably try to press on a bit more because that’s the way she likes to win her races, but for her first time over the fences, I couldn’t have been happier.

“She is in the Grand National Trial at Haydock and we will enter her for the cross country race at the Cheltenham Festival – we’ll see.”

Longsdon sets out Sidney Banks assignment for Rare Edition

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Charlie Longsdon’s unbeaten hurdler Rare Edition will head next for the Urban Logistics Reit Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon.

The six-year-old was placed behind good horses in two point-to-points in Ireland, with Saint Davy and Kalanisi Star finishing ahead of him before going on to impress in their own early careers.

In a sole bumper start Rare Edition was a two-length winner, after which he transitioned to hurdling and has won three consecutive novices by a combined 27 and a half lengths.

A step up in grade and trip for the Listed Sidney Banks now awaits on February 9, with the gelding then holding entries for both the Supreme and Ballymore Novices’ Hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival.

“The plan is the Huntingdon race, the Sidney Banks, then we will have to go from there,” Longsdon said.

“He seems very well in himself, he jumped on Monday and worked on Tuesday morning. The plan will be to go there and take it from that race onward.”

Longsdon also provided an update on Tea For Free and Lilly Pinchin after their heavy fall at Doncaster in the Sky Bet Chase.

The combination started as 3-1 joint-favourites for the big handicap and were in contention up the home straight, but a fall at the second-last saw them crash out of the race and looked nasty for both horse and rider.

Pinchin sustained a broken collarbone as a result and faces several weeks on the sidelines, whereas Tea For Free will sit out the remainder of the season as he is given time to recover from the affects of the fall.

“Tea For Free is fine, he’s on box rest for a while as he ruptured some ligaments in a hind leg, but that should be fine for next season,” Longsdon said.

Tea For Free suffered a fall at Doncaster
Tea For Free suffered a fall at Doncaster (Nigel French/PA)

“I did think he was a goner but thankfully he’s OK, which is the main thing, and should be back next season.

“Lilly has done her collarbone, she tells me two weeks but I think it could be longer than that. She’s very tough!”

Conditions key to Rare Edition’s Haydock hopes

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Charlie Longsdon will be keeping a keen eye on conditions at Haydock – with Rare Edition set to be rerouted to Huntingdon if the ground on Merseyside proves too testing for his Supreme Novices’ Hurdle contender.

The six-year-old has put himself in the picture for the Cheltenham Festival opener with some faultless displays this season, winning all three of his assignments with the minimum of fuss to back up a successful rules debut in a Southwell bumper last spring.

He is currently as short as 14-1 in places to land an early blow for the home team at Prestbury Park following an emphatic victory over a useful cast at Kempton on Boxing Day and is one of nine entries for Saturday’s Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock.

However, if the ground is not to Longsdon’s liking, it will be Huntingdon’s Urban Logistics Reit Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle – won by Shishkin in 2020 – where the son of Califet will put his Cheltenham aspirations to the test.

“He is entered for the Rossington Main, but if it is this (heavy) ground I won’t go,” said Longsdon.

“I won’t go on heavy ground. He’s a big, weak baby – a classy baby – but he won’t go on heavy ground.

“If he doesn’t go to Haydock, he’ll go to the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon. I think that is the more likely target at this stage because we know what the ground is going to be like realistically.

“I know that is two-miles-three, but it’s a sharp two-three.”

He added: “I’m looking forward to where he goes next and I was amazed when I heard him described as the best two-miler we’ve got in this country. Yes there are probably half a dozen better ones in Ireland, but it’s fun for us to have a good horse.

“Everything matches up right, it’s there and clear to see. He deserves to be where he is and as people say, if he was trained by a Henderson or Nicholls, he would be half the price. We’re lucky to have him.”

If running at Huntingdon on February 9, Longsdon will get the chance to see his star novice in action up in distance – something the Chipping Norton-based handler has mentioned could suit in the past.

However, despite still holding the view that an extended trip would help Rare Edition’s jumping, the Sky Bet-backed Supreme remains the number one assignment for the Festival.

Trainer Charlie Longsdon is excited to see Rare Edition in his next outing
Trainer Charlie Longsdon is excited to see Rare Edition in his next outing (Zac Goodwin/PA)

“I think he’ll want a step up in trip in time, but his two-mile figures at the moment you can’t ignore,” continued Longsdon.

“Over two and a half, I think it would help his jumping – at the moment he’s a bit careful and jumps a bit like it’s a fence.

“That is no bad thing for the long term and I don’t want to ruin that jumping either.

“So I do think two and a half might help him, but the Supreme would be our favoured option at this stage.”

Olly Murphy has Chasing Fire entered at Haydock
Olly Murphy has Chasing Fire entered at Haydock (Mike Egerton/PA)

The Olly Murphy-trained Chasing Fire would appear to be a leading rival to Rare Edition should he run at Haydock, having won each of his two hurdles starts so far while Howlingmadmurdock from Tom Lacey’s yard and Evan Williams’ Doyen Star have also won their only hurdles outings.

Pembroke and War Soldier have each won their last two for Dan Skelton and Sandy Thomson respectively, with Matata, Poetic Music and Toothless completing the list of possibles.

Nicky Henderson has entered Epatante and First Street in the New One Unibet Hurdle.

There are nine possibles, with Nigel Twiston-Davies keen to win the prize with I Like To Move It given the race is named after his former stable star, The New One.

Mr Incredible advertises National credentials in defeat

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Mr Incredible may have failed in his late quest to run down Iwilldoit in the Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase at Warwick, but his pilot Brian Hayes believes it sets the seven-year-old up perfectly for a tilt at the Randox Grand National on April 15.

Willie Mullins’ raider was just under three lengths adrift of the winner at the line, but having been ridden with patience in the early salvos, was rattling home at a fair pace under the Irishman, keeping on and reducing the deficit with every stride.

Mr Incredible is owned by Paul Byrne, who was the owner of last year’s Grand National winner Noble Yeats before selling the Emmet Mullins-trained eight-year-old to Robert Waley-Cohen prior to Aintree.

And he could have another contender for the world’s most famous steeplechase on his hands with the son of Westerner available at 33-1 with both Paddy Power and Betfair for the Merseyside marathon.

“It was a cracking run,” said Hayes. “He really warmed up into it. He was a bit slow away and I took the time with him then as was the plan and I was pulling a roller coming down the hill.

“He finished really well. He just missed the second-last and got under the last a little bit, which slowed him down a little bit but the way he finished you would like to think he would be a good horse who will run well in the Grand National anyway.

“I would say the Grand National will be the number one target after that run.”

And the rider, who is a key cog in Mullins’ Closutton team, believes he would have passed the Sam Thomas-trained scorer if the race was run over an extra 50 yards.

When asked if he thought he would catch Iwilldoit, he responded: “I thought so, I was hoping the line wasn’t going to come any earlier and unfortunately it did, another 50 yards and he gets up.”

Aintree could also be on the equation for Dan Skelton’s Ashtown Lad, despite only finishing second in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle.

A winner over the National fences in the Becher chase earlier this term, he cruised into contention in eyecatching fashion under the trainer’s brother Harry Skelton, but could not grind down Charlie Longsdon’s game Glimpse Of Gala when it mattered most.

“That was a really good run and we’re really happy to him,” said Skelton. “Fair play to the winner as she’s a really gritty horse and she picked up well, but ours isn’t a hurdler.

Ashtown Lad ridden by jockey Harry Skelton on their way to winning the Boylesports Becher Chase (Premier Handicap) at Aintree
Ashtown Lad ridden by jockey Harry Skelton on their way to winning the Boylesports Becher Chase (Premier Handicap) at Aintree (Nigel French/PA)

“I wanted to run him because he’s in good form at home and I didn’t want to then press hard in early February, so that will just keep him ticking over and I’m really happy with him.

“He didn’t quite stay from the back of the last, three miles in soft ground over hurdles is a long trip for any horse. You’re going to want to ask me Grand National questions and that’s my only concern with him – I still have a very unanswered question about that trip.

“He’ll go to Ascot next for the Swinley Chase and I think he’ll be a fair player. I think 145 has got you into the National every year so we’ll see.”

Meanwhile Longsdon was delighted that 5-1 favourite Guetapan Collonges proved he was capable of holding his own when fourth in the day’s feature.

The Chipping Norton-based handler described the race as a “sink or swim” moment for the JP McManus-owned seven-year-old and he thrilled his trainer in the manner he stayed on.

“I’m delighted with him, over the moon with him,” said Longsdon.

“He’s only run in five- and six-runner races all last season. He fell in a two-runner race at Sedgefield, he ran in a six-runner race here. Everyone cribbed his jumping, but he jumped beautifully and Richie McLernon said he got into some rhythm.

“He’s still really weak and Richie said he’s just too weak this year. But another summer on his back and he’ll be a proper horse for all these slow-ground staying chases next year.

“This was a sink or swim today and he definitely stood up to be counted.”

Guetapan Collonges steps up in intriguing Classic Chase

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Guetapan Collonges looks to prove his stamina in the Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase at Warwick on Saturday.

The Charlie Longsdon-trained gelding has been rising through the ranks since graduating to steeplechasing, winning three of his past four outings over fences with the sole loss caused by a fall.

He has been incrementally stepped up in trip and will progress to an even longer distance in the three-mile-five-furlong Classic Chase.

Bred along the same lines at Grand National winner Neptune Collonges, staying power should be no issue for the gelding and under a relative featherweight of 10st 3lb, he lines up with a live chance.

“I’m looking forward to see him going, to be honest. It is a step up in class, but he seems very fit and well in himself,” Longsdon said.

“It is a big ask. A big step up in grade, but he is in a handicap, so it can’t be the wrong race.”

Guetapan Collonges has track form under his belt having won at Warwick last time, and has jumped with increasingly fluency as his career has progressed.

“He produced a nice run at Warwick last time, especially since he over-jumped the last and stumbled a bit and got back up and won nicely, going away,” said Longsdon

“I’m looking forward to it. He is the sort of horse for all those Nationals and he stays all day, but there is nothing set in stone. He is that sort of horse – a National horse.”

Adrian Heskin and Threeunderthrufive
Adrian Heskin and Threeunderthrufive (Tim Goode/PA)

Carrying top-weight is Paul Nicholls’ Threeunderthrufive, whose Coral Gold Cup bid came to an premature end when he unseated Adrian Heskin at the first fence.

An alternative run in the Welsh Grand National did not come to fruition as he was felt to be a little off his best when declarations were made, but connections are hoping he will develop in a National horse and that Warwick is a successful stepping stone to that target.

Iain Turner, racing manager to owners the McNeill family, said: “He’s in really good shape. Ideally he wouldn’t want to be carrying 12st in what is increasingly bad ground, but he doesn’t qualify for Taunton next week, for the Portman Cup, so we need to get cracking with him.

“Possibly his best novice chase appearance was on the same card last year, when he won the Grade Two (Hampton Novices’ Chase).

“Ever since he won at Cheltenham as a novice chaser, Paul said he was a National horse in time and I think that what we always had in mind.

“Newbury didn’t go to plan. It will be interesting as this is handicap company and quite a big field, bigger than most of the races he’s run in so far. These are all things he’s going to have to learn if he’s going to be going for a National.”

Iwilldoit and Stan Sheppard
Iwilldoit and Stan Sheppard (David Davies/PA)

Sam Thomas’ Iwilldoit will run for the first time in over a year as he teams up with jockey Stan Sheppard.

The 10-year-old won the 2021 Welsh Grand National when last seen, proving his stamina at Chepstow in testing ground.

A comeback victory would be especially significant for the Thomas stable as the trainer was involved in a helicopter crash in November along with owner Dai Walters.

“To win this for Sam would be great given everything that has gone on in his life over the last few months,” Sheppard said.

“Stolen Silver hit the cross bar for him at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and hopefully we can go one better and give him another big-race winner.

“It was a very good day last season winning the Welsh Grand National. It was worth getting down to 10st 4lb, which I hadn’t done for a long time.

“In races like this you need a lot of luck to go your way as more things can go right than wrong.”

Chris Honour is represented by Grumpy Charley, an eight-year-old last seen claiming a tough win in soft ground at Newbury.

Grumpy Charley and Bryan Carver (left)
Grumpy Charley and Bryan Carver (left) (Nigel French/PA)

The grey seemed to relish both the conditions and the three-mile-two-furlong trip, and a repeat performance under James Bowen make him a contender on ground currently described as heavy.

“It wasn’t the plan to go to go here, we were going to go for the Peter Marsh next week but the weather’s not looking great,” Honour said.

“He feels very well in himself, he’s eating very well and so we thought we’d take a chance.

“When things are in his favour he’s very good. He loves soft ground, three-mile-five in heavy ground is going to be hard work, but if he runs like the last day… He was really galloping for us and he didn’t come home excessively tired.

Grumpy Charley during his hurdling days
Grumpy Charley during his hurdling days (David Davies/PA)

“It’s not ideal, 14 days in between races, but sometimes you’ve got to go with what you’ve got and he’s very well at home.

“We’ll take our chances, the prize money is there and you can’t begrudge the prize money if you don’t go for it when it is there! We’re hopeful.”

Willie Mullins sends Mr Incredible over from Ireland, with Richard Hobson set to run Lord Du Mesnil and Ben Pauling fielding Nestor Park.

Venetia Williams’ Commodore will line up along with Henry Daly’s Fortescue and Sandy Thomson’s Dingo Dollar.

Longsdon contemplates cross-country mission with Leopardess

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Charlie Longsdon’s popular chaser Snow Leopardess will be taken for a Cheltenham schooling session to see how she takes to the cross-country course.

The mare enjoyed a superb run of form last season, which included a brilliant round of jumping to land the Becher Chase at Aintree in December.

She found the ground too quick in the National itself and was pulled up on her return at Warwick before shaping well for a long way back over the National fences in the Becher once more.

Well fancied for the Veterans’ Final at Sandown on Saturday, she finished seventh.

Snow Leopardess (right) winning the Becher Chase last season
Snow Leopardess (right) winning the Becher Chase last season (Tim Goode/PA)

Longsdon is now considering taking her to Cheltenham for a cross-country schooling session to see what she makes of the banks and rails.

“She’s fine, she ran a funny old race and just didn’t go at all in that first circuit,” he said.

“She just didn’t show much enthusiasm in that first lap, and was then absolutely fine in the second lap when she was pulled out and got a bit of space.

“She flew along in the second circuit, she is going to go cross-country schooling at Cheltenham and we’re going to see how she takes to that, that might be a route we can think about taking with her.

“They went very quick and she looked a bit cold that first lap, she might have just taken a while to warm up, though she doesn’t normally.

“It can happen, she’s a bit older and it might have just been the way it went that day.”

Guetapan Collonges expected to thrive for Warwick stamina test

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Charlie Longsdon’s well-related Guetapan Collonges is preparing to line up for a tilt at Warwick’s Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase on Saturday.

The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old has been making progress as a steeplechaser, winning three of his six starts over fences and continually improving while gradually stepping up in trip.

A fall at Sedgefield in March is the only defeat of his past four runs, the most recent of which was a Warwick success over three miles and one and a half furlongs in November.

A further step up in trip now beckons for Classic Chase, a premier handicap run over three miles and five furlongs.

Stamina will come to the fore over that distance and Longsdon’s runner comes from a family in abundant supply of that trait as he is from the same bloodline as 2012 Grand National winner Neptune Collonges.

The latter has a French-trained full-sister named Saturne Collonges who in turn foaled Guetapan Collonges – making Neptune and Guetapan uncle and nephew in human terms.

“It’s a big step up in grade, but he won nicely around Warwick last time,” Longsdon said.

“Soft ground and further distance should suit him, we’re looking forward to seeing how he gets on.

“The further he goes, the better he goes, and this will be an acid test of whether or not he’s good enough.”

Guetapan Collonges’ jumping seemed to have taken a step forward when he was last seen at Warwick, but he is still relatively lightly-raced and in a field of seasoned chasers he will carry a second-from-bottom weight of just 10st 3lb.

Longsdon said: “His jumping has definitely improved so all we can do now is hope, he’s under 10st 3lb and that is definitely the right end of the handicap.”