3 minute read
Crambo cut to 8/1 for Stayers’ Hurdle glory after landing a Christmas thriller.
Fergal O'Brien enjoyed a second Grade 1 success as a trainer when Crambo rallied late to deny Paisley Park in the Howdens Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.
The Fergal O'Brien-trained runner was made to pull out all the stops but narrowly got the better of Paisley Park, who was bidding to match Baracouda's record of four wins in the Grade 1 contest over an extended three miles.
Jeremy Scott's Dashel Drasher took up his customary position at the head of affairs, but the field was tightly packed at the halfway stage.
Popular eleven-year-old Paisley Park seemed to be travelling with more zest than is often the case and Tom Bellamy was quick to throw down his bid for glory between the final two flights. Jonny Burke continued to galvanise the unexposed six-year-old Crambo and the pair soon set down for a fight after jumping the last in unison.
Paisley Park looked to be getting the upper hand close home but Crambo, who "never knows when he's beaten", battled back bravely and eventually prevailed by a short-head.
O'Brien, who was enjoying his first top-level success since Poetic Rhythm in 2017, said: "He never knows he's beat,"
"The horse is still very young, and I can't believe he is here winning a Grade One – I could tell two furlongs out he was going to get there.
"He's a bull of a horse, Noel Fehily bred him with Jared (Sullivan, co-owner) and Noel always has him home and pre-trains him and has done a great job with him.
"He's unique, Noel was telling me today he was two weeks' premature, and the mum foaled herself and he is just one of those – you honestly wouldn't know he was in the place at home, he's so straightforward.
"We took him away a couple of weeks ago because I wanted Johnny to have a sit on him and because I didn't want Johnny to get to the races