3 minute read

Fergal O’Brien’s star stayer once again proved he was a fan of the festive period when digging deep to successfully defend his Long Walk Hurdle crown at Ascot on Saturday.

Things certainly haven't been plain sailing since Fergal O'Brien's seven-year-old announced himself on the staying scene, with disappointing efforts at both the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals leaving connections scratching their heads for answers.

A return to action in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury last month had been on the cards, but an unsatisfactory scope ruled him out of his intended comeback, leaving Fergal O'Brien no real option but to head to Ascot without a prep run.

Berkshire Grand National winner Beauport took the field along at a fairly sedate gallop and jumping the second-last it looked as though he may have given his rivals the slip. However, the pack, headed by Crambo, began to close and a good jump at the final flight saw a successful defence of his Grade 1 prize come within touching distance.

It wasn't over yet though. Henry de Bromhead's Hiddenvalley Lake emerged on the scene late to throw down one last challenge and with fifty yards to go, it looked as though he may get up to become the first Irish-trained winner of the Long Walk Hurdle. It wasn't to be, however, as Crambo continued to dig deep under Johnny Burke and the pair eventually fought off the challenger to prevail by a head.

The front-running Beauport kept on bravely to finish third, with JP McManus' new recruit The Wallpark performing creditably on his first start at Grade 1 level in fourth. Olly Murphy's 11/8 favourite Strong Leader never looked like landing a blow and eventually trailed home last of the ten runners.

"It's been a tough time; horses haven't been firing and we've had a change of jockey. We've been getting it from all angles," said O'Brien.

"The horses haven't been quite right, but the winning of this race was not running at Newbury, I knew we could get him better. I knew he likes the track here.

"If we were going to see the old Crambo, the best place to come was here. I couldn't do it without the owners, I'm so grateful to Chris (Giles, owner) for letting me wait and come back here. He's shown us what we wanted to see today.

"Johnny will be a big part of where we go next, he's the one who is riding him and he's the one who knows how he felt at Cheltenham last year.

"I genuinely think we had a good first half of the season and then the wheels fell off, I was a bit disappointed in myself for running him at Aintree but he's come back here today and he's shown what he can do.

When asked if he had felt the pressure leading up to Crambo's title defence, O'Brien quipped: "What pressure. Pressure is for tyres."

On a more serious note, he added: "This job brings its own pressures but as a trainer, you put pressure on yourself, because you want to do well, for your owners, for your staff, for everyone else.

"They haven't been quite right, but we've always kept the belief in our system."

A jubilant winning owner Chris Giles commented: "He never does it easy, does he? He wins just by a little bit, it's lovely to see that and lovely to see him back.

"Some thinking has to be done; you wonder whether he loved Cheltenham. That's one for the trainer to work out!"

Paddy Power cut the winner to 16/1 (from 66s) for the Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.