Long Walk Hurdle: Crambo all-out defense of Ascot Grade One crown for Fergal O’Brien and Johnny Burke | Racing news

Crambo repeated his win from last year when he held on to win a second Howden Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.

Since his victory in the race 12 months ago, his career had been in danger of going off the rails, having disappointed at Cheltenham and Aintree.

Trainer Fergal O’Brien had wanted him to appear again at Newbury last month but he was not quite right, so it meant he had to face in-form rivals in a Grade 1 on his return seasonal

Kicked out on September 1, Crambo had plenty to blow the penultimate before his resistance began.

The race had been taken by Beauport, better known as a chaser, and being given such an easy lead, in the penultimate flight he seemed to have slipped the field.

He was still ahead jumping last, but perhaps over the hurdle a little too big, giving Crambo the chance to take advantage.

Once Johnny Burke got the better of him there was further danger as Henry de Bromhead’s Hiddenvalley Lake left the final challenge but missed by a head. Beauport came third, with The Wallpark fourth.

The strong favorite was one of the first to be beaten and never looked like winning.

Jungle Boogie kicks off the Christmas party

Jungle Boogie provided Henry de Bromhead and Darragh O’Keeffe with their first winner at Ascot al Howden Graduation Chase.

The talented, but extremely fragile, 10-year-old covered every meter of the race in what turned out to be quite an eventful affair.

Only four went to the venue, with Iroko only trained in the UK, while the others traveled from Ireland.

Unfortunately for those backing Iroko, they learned their fate early on as at the first fence he collided with the errant Fil Dor in the air, giving Jonjo O’Neill Jr no chance .

Jungle Boogie came into the field but the pace was only leisurely and clearly too slow for James Du Berlais, who was excited in the hands of Daryl Jacob and made mistakes.

The leader had traveled well in the Gold Cup when last seen but could not see out the trip to Cheltenham, and on the second circuit began to jump further and further to his left.

Formerly trained by Willie Mullins, he was unbeaten in a bumper, maiden hurdle and a novice chase, but having had just three races in nearly as many years for the Closutton handler, he later had more than two years off before joining De Bromhead.

However, he has been solid since then and is clearly a talented performer, running out an easy eight-length winner.

Family affair like Thank You Ma’am scores for the Nicholls team

Young rider Olive Nicholls kept it in the family with a maiden win at Ascot com thank you madam came out on top at Thames Materials Novice Handicap Fence.

Riding for his mother Georgie against a field that included a rival trained by his father Paul, Nicholls held a commanding position in the chestnut as he looked to break his duck after finishing second on six occasions.

The duo ran the entire race, settling into a lovely pace with a neat round of jumps to take the final corner into the lead.

No-one could hit the line, and it was the 11/4 favorite who took a seven-and-a-half-length success to give the mother-daughter pair even more reason to celebrate this Christmas.

Gary and Josh Moore’s Kotmask then it was imposed on the Howden Handicap Chasejustifying favoritism at 13/8 under Caoilin Quinn.

The six-year-old had already run well twice at the track this term without winning, but improved efforts to score by a length and three-quarters of a length, despite a slow jump in the last.