Lengthy Stroll Hurdle: Crambo wholeheartedly defends Ascot Grade One crown for Fergal O’Brien and Johnny Burke | Racing Information

Crambo repeated his victory from final yr by hanging on grimly to win a second Howden Lengthy Stroll Hurdle at Ascot.

Since successful the race 12 months in the past, his profession was in peril of being derailed, having disillusioned at Cheltenham and Aintree.

Coach Fergal O’Brien had wished him to reappear at Newbury final month however he wasn’t fairly proper, so it meant he needed to face in-form rivals for the race in a Grade One at its seasonal return.

Despatched off at 9/1, Crambo had lots to do as he skipped the penultimate earlier than his stamina got here into play.

The race had been led by Beauport, higher often called a chaser, and as he had been given such a straightforward lead, on the penultimate flight it appeared he had slipped via the pack.

He was nonetheless forward leaping final, however he might have cleared that hurdle a bit, giving Crambo the chance to take benefit.

As soon as Johnny Burke had mastered it, a brand new hazard arose when Henry de Bromhead’s Hiddenvalley Lake took on the ultimate problem, however narrowly failed by a head. Beauport remained third and The Wallpark fourth.

The favourite Sturdy Chief was one of many first to be overwhelmed and by no means appeared to win.

Jungle Boogie kicks off the Christmas get together

Jungle Boogie offered Henry de Bromhead and Darragh O’Keeffe with their first winner at Ascot within the Howden Commencement Hunt.

The proficient however extraordinarily fragile 10-year-old coated each meter of the race in what was fairly an eventful affair.

Solely 4 of them went on put up, with Iroko alone skilled within the UK, whereas the others got here from Eire.

Sadly for many who supported Iroko, they met their destiny early on, as whereas leaping the primary fence, he collided with Fil Dor wandering via the air, leaving Jonjo O’Neill Jr no probability.

Jungle Boogie took over however the tempo was solely calm and clearly too sluggish for James Du Berlais, who was full of life within the palms of Daryl Jacob and making errors.

The chief had traveled very nicely within the Gold Cup on his final go to, however failed to finish the journey at Cheltenham, and on the second circuit he started to leap increasingly more to his left.

Previously skilled by Willie Mullins, he was undefeated in a bumper, maiden hurdle and newbie’s chase, however having made solely three runs in nearly as a few years for the Closutton handler, he was then over two years outdated cease earlier than becoming a member of De Bromhead.

He has, nevertheless, been in good well being since and is clearly a proficient performer, successful a straightforward eight size winner.

Household affair as Thank You Ma’am scores for Workforce Nicholls

Younger Olive Nicholls stayed within the household with maiden victory at Ascot Thanks Madam got here first within the Handicap impediment for Thames supplies novices.

Using for his mom Georgie in opposition to a subject which included a rival skilled by his father Paul, Nicholls took a number one place on the chestnut as he seemed to interrupt his duck after ending second on six events.

The pair rode your complete race, settling into a pleasant rhythm with a sequence of neat jumps to take the ultimate nook within the lead.

Nobody may land a blow operating to the road, and it was the 11/4 favourite who cruised to a seven and a half size success to present the mother-daughter partnership much more cause to have fun this Christmas.

That of Gary and Josh Moore Kot’s Masks then prevailed within the Howden Handicap Pursuitjustifying favoritism at 13/8 underneath Caoilin Quinn.

The six-year-old had already run nicely twice on the observe this season with out successful, however he improved his effort to attain by a size and three quarters, regardless of a sluggish soar on the final.