Impose Toi continued his rise through the staying hurdler ranks with a first Grade 1 success in the Howden Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday. The seven-year-old, trained by Nicky Henderson and ridden by Nico de Boinville, extended his winning margin over Strong Leader to a length and a quarter, having beaten the same rival by half a length at Newbury last month.
Despite meeting Strong Leader on 6lb worse terms, Impose Toi proved too strong, jumping the last with authority and drawing clear on the run-in. Honesty Policy, the 11-4 favourite and like the winner owned by JP McManus, finished third, a neck behind the runner-up.
Ladbrokes trimmed Impose Toi to 5-1 for the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. Henderson said: 'From my point of view it was quite pleasurable to watch. When you see him going that well turning into the straight, you knew Nico had got them covered. Then you have got to execute but he was pretty flawless.'
Henderson added: 'We were 6lb different to Newbury, so he had to improve. I feel sorry for Strong Leader, who is an admirable horse – we have nailed him twice and, if anything, I think we looked more convincing today.'
McManus, celebrating his 74th birthday, now turns attention to Fact To File in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. He said: 'I’d love to win the King George. I’ve been trying since 1978 and was second that year and in ’79 but I haven’t managed to get our nose in front since. Willie [Mullins] seems to be very happy to go and I’m very happy to go.'
