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Gordon Elliott hopes The Wallpark can make the step up to Grade 1 level in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.
A busy festive period for leading Irish trainer Gordon Elliott will begin on Saturday, with the progressive The Wallpark making the trip across the sea to contest the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.
Recently purchased by prominent owner JP McManus, the ultra-improving six-year-old made it four wins from his last four outings when getting the better of Gowel Road by two and a half lengths in a Pertemps Hurdle qualifier at Cheltenham in October.
That victory was a first attempt over three miles for The Wallpark, who now looks set to take on the likes of Strong Leader and Crambo at the Berkshire venue this weekend.
"In fairness to him, he doesn't do anything fancy at home, but he just keeps winning," Elliott said on Sky Sports Racing.
"He's got a good attitude and he's probably never been as well. I thought he was very good at Cheltenham the last day, he hit the line strong.
"He's going to have to improve to win a Long Walk Hurdle but he's an improving horse and we don't know where he's going to end up.
"I don't really mind (the ground) to be honest, as long as it's not one of the two extremes – very quick or very, very soft."
Should The Wallpark prove his capabilities to operate at the top-level in the staying division on Saturday, a crack at the Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March could be on the cards.
"If he wins a Long Walk Hurdle, then he's a Grade 1 winner, so that's the route we'll be going.
"It's not a bad race, you've got Olly's horse (Strong Leader) and Fergal O'Brien's (Crambo), and Dan (Skelton) and Paul (Nicholls) have got a few.
"Our horse knows how to win and he's in good form, so we're looking forward to it."
The Wallpark will not be the only horse from Elliott's Cullentra House Stables on Saturday to make the journey across the Irish Sea, with stablemate Fil Dor expected to take his chance in the Graduation Chase over two miles and five furlongs.
Gordon Elliott's six-year-old chased home Saint Sam in the Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase before readily doubling his tally over fences in a two-runner Listed contest at Thurles late last month.
Elliott said: "He comes over, he's not too far out on ratings,"
"It was only a two-runner race the last day, but I thought he jumped well if he can get back to the same sort of form, he was in this time last year, then I think he'll have a massive chance.
"He worked after the racing at Navan on Sunday and I was happy with him."
