Long Walk Hurdle: Crambo all heart to defend Ascot Grade One crown for Fergal O’Brien and Johnny Burke

Crambo repeated his victory of final yr when grimly holding on to win a second Howden Lengthy Stroll Hurdle at Ascot.

Since his victory within the race 12 months in the past, his profession had been in peril of coming off the rails, having dissatisfied at Cheltenham and Aintree.

Coach Fergal O’Brien had wished him to reappear at Newbury final month however he was not fairly proper, so it meant that he was having to tackle race-fit rivals in a Grade One on his seasonal return.

Despatched off at 9/1, Crambo had lots to do leaping the second final earlier than his stamina kicked in.

The race had been taken alongside by Beauport, higher often called a chaser, and as he was given such a simple lead, on the second-last flight it appeared he had slipped the sector.

He was nonetheless in entrance leaping the final, however maybe cleared that impediment only a bit large, which gave Crambo the prospect to attract upsides.

As soon as Johnny Burke had mastered him, there was a brand new hazard, as Henry de Bromhead’s Hiddenvalley Lake put down the ultimate problem, however he simply failed by a head. Beauport caught on for third, with The Wallpark fourth.

The favorite Robust Chief was one of many first crushed and by no means regarded like successful.

Valiant Victtorino lifts Silver Cup trophy once more

Charlie Deutsch and Venetia Williams notched one more large winner when Victtorino was produced to steer proper on the road to win the Howden Silver Cup Handicap Chase for the second successive yr.

He was despatched off the 5/2 favorite having caught the attention in ending third within the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, regardless of making a number of leaping errors that day.

Whereas his leaping was not foot excellent once more, Victtorino did save his finest leap for final, when it actually mattered.

The tempo had been relentless all through, with three horses serving to set it in Trelawne, The Altering Man and Threeunderthrufive.

Whereas that trio have been exerting themselves, Deutsch, driving stuffed with confidence after large race wins on Royale Pagaille, Martator, Gemirande and Djelo already this season, was completely satisfied to take a seat indifferent from the principle group.

He progressively moved into rivalry and with three fences to leap he was fourth, with by now simply The Altering Man out in entrance.

Operating right down to the final, it was all going to come back right down to the leaping and Deutsch noticed a lovely stride, which Victtorino agreed with, they usually landed operating, serving to them win by half a size.

It was the second time this season Joe Tizzard’s The Altering Man had been denied in a helpful Saturday occasion by Williams, having come off second finest within the Rehearsal Chase behind Frero Banbou.

Jungle Boogie begins the Christmas celebration

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

The gifted however extraordinarily fragile 10-year-old made each yard of the operating in what changed into fairly an eventful affair.

Solely 4 went to publish, with simply Iroko educated within the UK, whereas the others travelled over from Eire.

Sadly for individuals who backed Iroko, they knew their destiny early on, as upon leaping the primary fence he collided with the errant Fil Dor in mid-air, giving Jonjo O’Neill Jr no probability.

Jungle Boogie took the sector alongside however the tempo was solely sedate and clearly too sluggish for James Du Berlais, who was eager within the fingers of Daryl Jacob and making errors.

The chief had travelled very nicely within the Gold Cup when final seen however did not see out the journey at Cheltenham, and on the second circuit he started to leap increasingly more out to his left.

Previously educated by Willie Mullins, he was unbeaten in a bumper, a maiden hurdle and a freshmen chase, however having had solely three runs in virtually as a few years for the Closutton handler, he then had over two years off earlier than becoming a member of De Bromhead.

He has been sound since, although, and is clearly a gifted performer, operating out a simple eight-length winner.

Fiercely Proud holds off Kabral Du Mathan in Ladbrokes thriller

Fiercely Proud got here out on high in a nail-biting end with Kabral Du Mathan to win the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle at Ascot.

Ben Pauling has at all times thought loads of the five-year-old, however he was starting to expire of excuses.

Having completed positioned in a few graded novice hurdles final season, he was given a handicap ranking of 129 however his season began in inauspicious style.

On his meant first run at Cheltenham in October, his jockey’s stirrup leather-based broke and he ran unfastened, which means he was withdrawn, then in a aggressive handicap at Ascot final month, he held each probability when falling two from residence.

Fiercely Proud completed a decent sixth within the Greatwood Hurdle however Pauling can have been staggered that after three meant runs, he was rated decrease than he began the season.

That meant he was nonetheless dangerously handled, although, and when the beforehand unbeaten Kabral Du Mathan got here upsides for a battle after the final, Fiercely Proud simply had that little bit additional for Kielan Woods and prevailed by a brief head.

Woods had beforehand been Pauling’s secure jockey however he selected to maintain his job as retained rider for the Megsons, who moved their horses away from Pauling final season.

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

Younger rider Olive Nicholls stored it within the household with a primary Ascot victory as Thank You Ma’am got here out on high within the Thames Supplies Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

Using for her mom Georgie in opposition to a subject which included a rival educated by her father Paul, Nicholls took up a distinguished place on the chestnut as he regarded to interrupt his duck after ending second on six events.

The duo made the entire operating, settling into a beautiful rhythm with a neat spherical of leaping to take the ultimate bend within the lead.

Nobody might land a blow on the run to the road, and it was the 11/4 favorite who strode to a seven-and-a-half-length success to present the mom and daughter partnership much more cause to have fun this Christmas.

Gary and Josh Moore’s Kotmask then prevailed within the Howden Handicap Chase, justifying favouritism at 13/8 underneath Caoilin Quinn.

The six-year-old had run nicely twice on the monitor already this time period with out successful, however bettered these efforts to attain by a size and three quarters, regardless of a sluggish bounce on the final.