Fergal O’Brien will give Crambo another chance to prove his worth at Cheltenham in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle.
The eight-year-old disappointed as a leading contender in the day three feature at last year’s Festival and also failed to fire on his return to the track in last month’s Cleeve Hurdle, trailing home a well beaten fifth of six runners.
There is no questioning Crambo’s ability, though, given he is a dual winner of the Grade One Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot, and O’Brien is happy to roll the dice back at Prestbury Park on March 13.
“He came out of the Cleeve fine. If there was a race around Ascot on the same day as the Stayers’ Hurdle, we’d be going to Ascot, but there’s nothing for him really, so we’ll have another crack at Cheltenham and see if we can make it third time lucky,” he said.
“He’s in great form, he came out of the Cleeve very well and we’re very happy with him.”
O’Brien’s Festival team is also likely to feature talented mare Dysart Enos, winner of her first six career starts and third behind Burdett Road in Cheltenham’s Greatwood Hurdle in November.
The daughter of Malinas disappointed as favourite for the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle at Ascot pre-Christmas and has since sidestepped possible engagements at the Dublin Racing Festival and in last weekend’s William Hill Hurdle at Newbury.
O’Brien added: “I’m glad we didn’t go to Leopardstown because the ground wasn’t quite right. We were going to go to the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton on Saturday, but she just didn’t work as well as we’d have wanted on Friday.
“I’ve spoken to the owners and we’re going to go straight to Cheltenham with her for the Mares’ Hurdle.”
The trainer confirmed Trials Day winner Sixmilebridge is on course for the Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival, while recent Musselburgh scorer Tripoli Flyer could earn himself a shot at the Supreme if proving himself in a higher grade at Kempton on Saturday week.
“Tripoli Flyer will take in the Dovecote (Novices’ Hurdle) and if he comes out of that fine, he’ll go to Cheltenham. If not, he’ll maybe go to Aintree or Punchestown,” said O’Brien.
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Jockey Jonathan Burke is confident Crambo can “put all the Cheltenham doubts to bed” on his return to the track for Saturday’s Betfair Cleeve Hurdle.
Fergal O’Brien’s charge disappointed as a leading fancy for the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last March, but will head back to Prestbury Park buoyed by a successful defence of his crown in the Long Walk at Ascot last month.
While wary of the threat posed by Strong Leader, who disappointed himself when hot favourite for the Long Walk but has since undergone wind surgery, Burke expects Crambo to show his true colours as he looks cement his status as Britain’s number one in the division.
Burke said: “He’s taking on much the same horses and he probably holds the form, albeit you probably have to look at Strong Leader coming back for his first run since a wind op.
“Off his rating and his performance in Ascot, Crambo is the one they all have to beat.
“I boxed him in at the start and went for cover at the Festival and he never really picked up the bridle and was never at the races, whereas the last day I was keen to get him out in space and after jumping two hurdles I knew I was in a good spot.
“It will be a case of getting him out in a bit of space and we’ll go from there, but if he finds his rhythm over the first three hurdles that should take care of the rest.
“He’s probably the flag bearer for myself and Fergal and our new link-up. He’s a very important horse for both of us and hopefully he can put all the Cheltenham doubts to bed on Saturday.”
Sean Bowen and Strong Leader winning at Aintree (Mike Egerton/PA)
Strong Leader, who finished a close third in last year’s Cleeve Hurdle before going on to claim Grade One glory at Aintree in the spring, is on a recovery mission following his Ascot blip.
The eight-year-old had previously made a fine start to his campaign by landing the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury, and trainer Olly Murphy is keeping his fingers crossed his stable star can get his season back on track.
“He’s had the wind op and he’s had a racecourse gallop as well and Sean (Bowen) was happy with him,” said the Warwickshire-based trainer.
“We’re coming in off the back of a very inadequate run, we know that, so first of all we need to get back on track, but he’s in good form and we’re looking forward to an improved performance.
“Crambo looks the one to beat in what looks an interesting renewal, but if our horse reproduces his Newbury or Aintree form, or even his Cleeve run from last year, he’s going to be bang there.
“He did come back with a problem from Ascot, I’m hoping we’re over that and hoping the ground isn’t too testing, but we’ve got to run and find out.”
The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Gowel Road would not be winning out of turn after finishing second four times on the bounce, most recently giving Lucky Place a real run for his money in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
Willy Twiston-Davies, assistant to his father, said: “He’s been really unlucky and has been in great form, he was beaten by The Wallpark first time who went on to run in a Grade One at Ascot and the next twice he was giving 20lb plus away before then running well again in the Relkeel.
“He’s very consistent and he’s earned his shot at a good race with good prize-money.”
Other contenders include Monmiral (Paul Nicholls) and Jamie Snowden’s high-class chaser Ga Law, who reverts to hurdles for the first time since November 2023.
Ga Law in action over fences at Cheltenham (Nigel French/PA)
“He’s got all the confidence in the world over a fence, but just is quite badly handicapped,” said Snowden.
“He obviously won the Paddy Power Gold Cup and on Festival Trials day last season, but since then he’s been second an awful lot and each time he just kept getting nudged up by the handicapper.
“We just figured he is probably not the best-handicapped horse these days, so why not see where we are over hurdles?”
Botox Has (Gary and Josh Moore), Kerryhill (Ruth Jefferson) and Transmission (Neil Mulholland) complete the field.
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Fergal O’Brien is keen to get another run into Crambo between now and the Stayers’ Hurdle in March following his successful defence of the Long Walk at Ascot on Saturday.
The seven-year-old got the better of a titanic tussle with veteran stayer Paisley Park in the Grade One contest 12 months ago, but returned with questions to answer after failing to fire in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree in the spring.
He bounced right back to his best with another pulsating victory, however, getting the better of Hiddenvalley Lake by a head, and O’Brien reported his stable star to be none the worse for the experience on Sunday morning.
“All is good, very happy with him. He enjoyed his day yesterday, so we’re delighted with that and we’re having a Crambo party tomorrow (Monday) night,” he said.
“We went there more in hope than confidence, but I was happy we’d done plenty of work with him and I think we learnt a lot from last year. Fingers crossed we can get it right this year.
“It was great to get that over the line and get that win in the bag.”
Crambo did not run between the Long Walk and the Stayers’ Hurdle last season, but he appears unlikely to take a direct route this term.
Fergal O’Brien after winning the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot (Nigel French/PA)
O’Brien added: “I think it will be important for him to have another run, that’s what we didn’t do last year.
“He had three runs before Christmas last year and obviously yesterday was his first run of this season, so I think it’s important to have another run between now and Cheltenham.
“Whether we go for the Cleeve Hurdle at the end of January or find something else less gruelling, we’ll speak to the owners and see.
“There probably isn’t a lot else, but we might have to try and find a race somewhere, even if we have to drop back in trip, as I’d be very keen to get another race into him.”
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Crambo repeated his victory of last year when grimly holding 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 coming off the rails, having disappointed at Cheltenham and Aintree.
Trainer Fergal O’Brien had wanted him to reappear at Newbury last month but he was not quite right, so it meant that he was having to take on race-fit rivals in a Grade One on his seasonal return.
Sent off at 9-1, Crambo had plenty to do jumping the second last before his stamina kicked in.
The race had been taken along by Beauport, better known as a chaser, and as he was given such an easy lead, at the second-last flight it appeared he had slipped the field.
He was still in front jumping the last, but perhaps cleared that obstacle just a bit big, which gave Crambo the chance to draw upsides.
Once Johnny Burke had mastered him, there was a new danger, as Henry de Bromhead’s Hiddenvalley Lake put down the final challenge, but he just failed by a head. Beauport stuck on for third, with The Wallpark fourth.
The favourite Strong Leader was one of the first beaten and never looked like winning.
“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.
Connections of Crambo after winning the Howden Long Walk Hurdle (Nigel French/PA).
“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.
Crambo and jockey Johnny Burke (Nigel French/PA).
“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.”
Delighted owner Giles added: “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!”
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Last year’s winner Crambo is among a field of 10 declared for the Howden Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.
The form of Fergal O’Brien’s seven-year-old tailed off following his first Grade One win and he missed his intended reappearance at Newbury. However, jockey Jonathan Burke has seen a different side to him on the gallops recently and expects a better showing.
“I’m really looking forward to him, he missed the run at Newbury, but he’s been training well, he’s fresh and well so we’re very happy with him,” he said.
Crambo (right) edged out Paisley Park last year (Steven Paston/PA)
“He obviously showed a liking for Ascot (last year) and I’m really looking forward to getting him out.
“He used to be a horse you used to have to watch yourself schooling him as he could jam on, but this year he’s much better, you can do whatever you want on him whereas before you used to always want a lead on him.
“At Ascot last year everything went smoothly, but at Cheltenham and Aintree I was never really happy on him, hopefully all that is behind him now.”
Olly Murphy’s Strong Leader took full advantage of Crambo’s absence at Newbury and his now regarded as the leading staying hurdler in the UK. He is aiming for a second top-level win after success at Aintree.
Stepping up markedly in class is Gordon Elliott’s The Wallpark, who was bought by JP McManus after winning at Cheltenham recently.
The Wallpark (right) is bidding for a five-timer (Niall Carson/PA)
Also making the journey from Ireland are Charles Byrnes’ Shoot First, the Henry de Bromhead-trained Hiddenvalley Lake and William Durkan’s Eagle Fang. Beauport, Blueking d’Oroux, Botox Has and Kateira complete the field.
Burke also has a big chance in the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle on O’Brien’s Dysart Enos, third in the Greatwood on her comeback.
“She ran a belter considering it was 11 months off and probably the right horses came clear,” Burke told Sky Sports Racing.
“I might ride her with a bit more cover this time, but it was the way the race panned out at Cheltenham.
“Hopefully she should be there or thereabouts and naturally you think she’d improve.”
Be Aware, just in front of her at Cheltenham, takes her on again for Dan Skelton. Paul Nicholls’ unbeaten Kabral Du Mathan, Hughie Morrison’s Secret Squirrel and Alan King’s Favour And Fortune also run in a field of 13.
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Fergal O’Brien’s Crambo will get his season under way with a title defence in the Howden Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.
The seven-year-old defeated Paisley Park by a short head to claim the contest last term, prior to which he won on his seasonal debut at Aintree and finished third in Haydock’s Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle.
After the Grade One triumph at Ascot, Crambo then contested the top-level staying hurdles at both Cheltenham and Aintree, but did not hit the same heights as he had previously, finishing unplaced at both festivals.
He was due to kick off the current campaign in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury but a bad scope scuppered that plan, meaning the gelding will be seen for the first time since April when fighting to retain his Long Walk Hurdle crown.
“He’s very well, we’re really pleased with him. He had to miss Newbury but we have our fingers crossed he can make amends for it at Ascot,” said O’Brien.
“He just had a dirty scope but everything’s fine now and he’s been pleasing us at home.
“By this time last year, he’d already had two runs, so we’re hoping from here we can go a bit further into the season, through the winter and into the spring.”
Also entered is Olly Murphy’s Strong Leader, who signed off last term with a Grade One success in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree and was straight off the mark when winning the Long Distance Hurdle on his first run this season.
Dan Skelton’s two-time Coral Cup winner Langer Dan was third in the latter race and holds an entry too, alongside stablemate Kateira.
Paul Nicholls has entered Blueking d’Oroux, Nigel Twiston-Davies has put forward Beauport alongside Gary and Josh Moore’s Botox Has, with Ruth Jefferson’s Kerryhill completing the home team.
There is a strong Irish contingent still engaged at this stage, with Henry de Bromhead’s Hiddenvalley Lake, Charles Byrnes’ Shoot First, William Durkan’s Eagle Fang and Gordon Elliott’s The Wallpark all on the list.
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Crambo is set to head straight to Ascot after an unsatisfactory scope ruled him out of Friday’s Coral Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury.
The seven-year-old was priced as second favourite in the market behind Olly Murphy’s Strong Leader for the Grade Two contest over three miles but trainer Fergal O’Brien did not declare his charge.
The Ravenswell Farm handler admitted his stable star has a small issue which he did not want to risk, but he has already pencilled in a return to action in the Howden Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on December 21.
Crambo edged victory by a short head during a brilliant finish with Paisley Park in last year’s renewal and O’Brien is confident he can defend his crown, if he returns to full fitness, despite having not run since the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree in April.
“He didn’t scope quite as well as we would have liked him to scope, so we thought we’d wait,” O’Brien said.
“No (it’s not too serious), we just thought we’d wait and just get him right to go straight to Ascot, so fingers crossed.
“He’s not too far away from where we wanted him to be, but with that type of race – three miles around Newbury on softish ground – we wanted him to be on his A game and he probably wouldn’t be on his A game.
“It’s just over three weeks until Ascot so we will see how we go. By the time we got to Ascot last year, he had two runs, but we know he goes well fresh. We are not worried, I’d rather go to Ascot 100 per cent fresh and we know he likes it around there.
“Me and the owners are disappointed because we wanted to go to Newbury, but it wasn’t to be.”
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Crambo will look to set up a defence of his Long Walk Hurdle crown when he makes his intended return in Newbury’s Coral Long Distance Hurdle next month.
The seven-year-old ended trainer Fergal O’Brien’s long wait for a second Grade One victory when edging out Paisley Park in a pre-Christmas thriller at Ascot last December, announcing himself as the new kid on the block in the staying division over hurdles.
He failed to reach similar heights at both the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree in the spring but his handler is looking forward to getting his hurdling star back on track in Berkshire on November 29 and has been delighted with what he has seen so far on the training grounds.
Fergal O’Brien and Crambo (Adam Davy/PA)
“I’m looking forward to Crambo coming back and he will probably start off in the three-mile race at Newbury’s Hennessy meeting, that’s where we will aim him first time,” said O’Brien.
“Then we will hopefully roll on to Ascot at Christmas to defend the Long Walk.
“He’s in great form and we’re really happy with him. He’s working very well and we’ve been pleased with him. Fingers crossed things stay as they are.”
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Teahupoo will look to strike when fresh in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle for Gordon Elliott at the Cheltenham Festival.
The seven-year-old was beaten just three-quarters of a length in the same race last year and returned to action this season in good form to take the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle ahead of Impaire Et Passe at Fairyhouse in early December.
He has not run since then and is expected to benefit that as he is proven to go well after a brief break.
“We’re looking forward to Teahupoo in the Stayers’ and he seems in really good form,” said Robbie Power, racing manager to owner Robcour.
“It was a very good performance in the Hatton’s Grace and we’ve changed things up this year coming straight here.
Teahupoo after winning the Hatton’s Grace (Brian Lawless/PA)
“The big thing for him is he’s a better horse when he’s fresh and all his runs after a 50-odd day break he has won. We think that is the key to him.
“He didn’t get the rub of the green in the race last year and hopefully if things go well this year he will take plenty of beating. He deserves to win a Stayers’ and we’re giving him every chance.”
Elliott also runs reigning champion Sire Du Berlais, who followed up last year’s victory with success in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree.
Flooring Porter landed the race in both 2021 and 2022 before finishing fourth last season, after which he switched to jumping fences in the first half of the current campaign.
Flooring Porter winning the Stayers’ Hurdle in 2022 (Steven Paston/PA)
He was not without success as a chaser but connections ultimately decided to return to the Stayers’ Hurdle in a bid for a third triumph and veto the alternative option of the National Hunt Chase.
“He’s in good shape and we’re looking forward to it. I hope the ground dries out a little bit, I hope it’s not too deep, so we’ll see what happens,” said trainer Gavin Cromwell.
“He’s had a few schooling sessions over hurdles and they’ve gone well, he’s a very intelligent horse so I don’t see it (switching from fences) being a problem.
“When you see what Corbetts Cross (facile National Hunt Chase winner) did on Tuesday I’d say we dodged a bullet there and we’re happy to be running in the Stayers’ again.”
The British challenge is led by Fergal O’Brien’s Crambo, winner of the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot when last seen.
Fergal O’Brien stands with Crambo during a visit to his yard at Ravenswell Farm (Adam Davy/PA)
The seven-year-old beat Paisley Park, Dashel Drasher and Champ on that occasion and looks to be on an upward trajectory in a career that has already yielded seven wins from 10 starts.
“He’s in great form, I’m very happy with him and he has trained very well,” said O’Brien.
“We’ve had a great preparation, he’s just improved and improved for us.
“He doesn’t show a lot at home, everything he’s shown us is what he’s shown on the track and we couldn’t be more pleased with him.
“He’s won on everything, he won on good ground at Ascot and he’s won on heavy at Sandown last year so I can’t see that as an issue for him.
“We’ve our fingers crossed he can get his head in front.”
Jeremy Scott’s Dashel Drasher (David Davies/PA)
Jeremy Scott runs the hugely popular Dashel Drasher, with Emma Lavelle also set to saddle a fan favourite in the 12-year-old Paisley Park.
Winner of the race in 2019, he has run every year since and finished in third place in both 2021 and 2022.
Willie Mullins has three chances, with Sir Gerhard seemingly the leading hope as the mount of Paul Townend, while Asterion Forlonge will be ridden by Patrick Mullins and Janidil by Jody McGarvey.
Emmet Mullins’ Noble Yeats, the 2022 Grand National hero, will be partnered by Harry Cobden again after the duo beat Paisley Park to land the Cleeve Hurdle in January.
Joseph O’Brien runs Home By The Lee, with the field of 12 completed by Paul Gilligan’s Buddy One, three times a winner already this season.
“He seems to like this course and he has travelled over really well,” Gilligan said.
“He seems well in himself and although it is a big step up, I’m very happy with him and I think he will run with a lot of credit. I think he will run very well.”
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Fergal O’Brien has been one of the most upwardly mobile trainers in recent years yet despite racking up the winners, there is one particular itch that he would love to scratch.
O’Brien, who trains locally to Cheltenham, has still to taste success at the four-day Festival and admits the fact he has yet to do so is beginning to annoy him.
However, he is sending his two stable stars to the meeting this year and is happy to take on the Irish battalion with Crambo in the Stayers’ Hurdle and Dysart Enos in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
Speaking on a press visit to his yard O’Brien said: “I woke up this morning and thought I’ve 25 or 30 people coming, I could do without this on a work day two weeks before Cheltenham, but actually it’s what we do it for.
“We’re really excited. The Cheltenham Festival has been part of my life for the last 30 years and it’s the best week.”
O’Brien has finished second with the likes of Barney Dwan, Cap Soleil, Imperial Alcazar and Alaphilippe, with a couple of those in agonising photographs. But the near-misses have made him even more determined to stand in the hallowed enclosure as a winner.
“We went there two years ago with Imperial Alcazar and Alaphilippe and we’ve had exactly the same prep. We came away from both of those races having finished second, so disappointed they didn’t win, but not disappointed because we’ve had a great run-up to the race and if they get beaten they get beaten.
Crambo (left) and Punctuation on the going through their paces on the gallops (Adam Davy/PA)
“All I know is if Crambo and Dysart Enos turn up in the form that they’ve been in since we’ve had them, whatever beats them is going to be a good horse and they deserve to win, so that’s where we are.
“We’ve had four Festival seconds, but I’d rather be finishing second than finishing nowhere. Hopefully we can put it right this year.
“It’s definitely a box that we have to tick and something that we need to do. Hopefully this year will be our year and if it’s not hopefully it will be next year – we’ll keep going.
“We’ve got great facilities, great staff and fantastic owners. I was with Nigel Twiston-Davies for 18 years and I’ve been in the game long enough to know that we’ve got all the ingredients here, we just need the right horse on the right day and hopefully it will be this year on Thursday, March 14!”
Paddy Brennan celebrates on Dysart Enos at last year’s Grand National meeting (David Davies/PA)
O’Brien has had a great ally since starting out on his own in Paddy Brennan, his old mucker from the Twiston-Davies days.
“It would be great for Paddy to ride our first Festival winner, but I think Crambo (who will be ridden by Jonathan Burke) is first and I don’t care which one of them wins!” he said.
“I’d be delighted for Paddy if we could get him a Festival winner, that would actually mean the world to us, to everyone here, he’s been such a big part of Ravenswell growing.
“He’s been a huge part of all of this here and hopefully whenever he decides to retire, I’m hoping he’ll still be a big part of Ravenswell Farm. He’s got a great eye for a horse, he’s an unbelievable race planner and is great with the other jockeys, so fingers crossed there’ll be a role there for him somewhere.”
Dysart Enos looked in good form at O’Brien’s Ravenswell Farm (Adam Davy/PA)
O’Brien’s has not always been the sole name on the licence, for a short spell he joined forces with fellow trainer Graeme McPherson and the winners flowed. McPherson then went back on his own following an amicable split.
“We had a great time for a couple of years with Graeme and the numbers were there to show it – we had 141 winners last season, but spread over two sites it was very difficult, so it is much better,” said O’Brien.
“We’ve got a new barn here now and it’s fantastic. It works well, we’ve got some great staff and it’s just much easier having it all in the same place.
“When we came here we thought we might have 50 or 60 horses and tip away, but it’s gone well, it’s a great place to train. It’s a very simple routine and it works for us. Fingers crossed long may that last.”
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As ever, much of the build-up to the Cheltenham Festival has surrounded the dominant position of Irish trainers compared to their British counterparts. But despite the huge hole left by the absence of Constitution Hill, all might not be as bad as it seems for the home team, who appear to have some pretty solid chances.
Grey Dawning has taken to fences well (Nigel French/PA)
A useful novice hurdler last season, he won a Grade Two at Warwick but later fell in Grade One company at Aintree, so we never got to see how he compared to the best. As a result, he began this season a little under the radar but shaped nicely first time out when a close third to Stay Away Fay at Exeter. He then won easily at Haydock and should have beaten Ginny’s Destiny at Cheltenham but for an almighty blunder two out. His performance in easily beating Apple Away and Broadway Boy at Warwick marked him out as a real contender to take on Fact To File in the Brown Advisory, or Dan Skelton could still switch to the Turners to avoid that hot favourite.
Ginny’s Destiny has followed a similar route to stablemate Stage Star (Nigel French/PA)
Quite incredibly, Stage Star’s win in the corresponding race last season was champion trainer Paul Nicholls’ first at the meeting for three years and Ginny’s Destiny could repeat the dose. He has followed a very similar route to the race and, just like Stage Star, the theme of his performances has been putting his rivals under pressure with accurate jumping. Whatever beats him will have to put in a near-perfect round of fencing to get him out of rhythm.
Crambo (Stayers’ Hurdle, Thursday)
Crambo (right) has taken a big leap forwards this season (Steven Paston/PA)
Could this be the year that Fergal O’Brien finally breaks his Festival duck? He has come close on numerous occasions, albeit mostly in handicaps. But this season he is heading there with some top-class prospects. Crambo is already a Grade One winner, seeing off the veteran Paisley Park in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot, after which he was put away to ensure he arrives at his local track at the peak of his powers. In a wide-open year, Crambo has plenty going for him.
Dysart Enos (Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, Thursday)
Dysart Enos has impressed in remaining unbeaten (Simon Marper/PA)
If Crambo is unable to provide O’Brien with a first winner at the Festival, then maybe it will be Dysart Enos. The mare sprang to prominence when she lowered the colours of Queens Gamble in a Market Rasen bumper, where the consensus was the favourite had under performed. The way Dysart Enos then bolted up at the Grand National meeting proved that was not the case. Cleverly campaigned this season to avoid picking up a penalty, she might just have a bit too much speed for the Irish mares, who have been winning in heavy ground all season.
Sir Gino (Triumph Hurdle, Friday)
Sir Gino created a massive impression at Cheltenham (Nigel French/PA)
You could not find a horse who looks less like a juvenile hurdler than this fellow – but he can really motor. While he may look more like a three-mile chaser than a sharp two-mile hurdler, he made a Royal Ascot winner in Burdett Road look rather pedestrian on Trials day, sprinting clear after the last. In most of the last few Triumph Hurdles, Willie Mullins has held the nap hand. This year, however, Sir Gino is set to be a red-hot favourite and there will be long faces at the Seven Barrows yard of Nicky Henderson if he is beaten.
Shishkin (Gold Cup, Friday)
Shishkin is trying hard to rid himself of his bad boy image (Adam Davy/PA)
Given the manner of Shishkin’s last two victories, at Aintree in April and Newbury last month, grinding out wins over three miles, it is hard to fathom how he had the speed to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and an Arkle in his youth. What happened in between those races also casts aspersions on his character, as he refused to race at Ascot and looked a little recalcitrant at the start of the King George. However, when he did hit top stride at Kempton, he showed the size of his engine remains intact when still in front two out – before unfortunately tripping up on landing. He rattled home when second in the Ryanair last year but did not look happy throughout and a year earlier he was pulled up early in the Queen Mother, so it is to be hoped there are no mental scars of Cheltenham.
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Fergal O’Brien is confident Crambo possesses all the necessary tools to make his presence felt in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
The seven-year-old is very much the new kid on the block in the staying division over the smaller obstacles, kicking off his campaign with a handicap victory at Aintree.
He had to make do with minor honours on his next start at Haydock, but fully justified his trainer’s decision to throw him in at the deep end after coming out on top in a titanic tussle with popular veteran Paisley Park in the Long Walk at Ascot the following month.
Speaking at Jockey Club press morning at his Ravenswell Farm yard, O’Brien issued an upbeat bulletin on Crambo’s well-being ahead of his bid for Festival glory in little over a fortnight’s time.
“Crambo is not a great workhorse, but he does everything very well and he’s very fresh after his work, which is what you want to see,” he said.
“He’s got a great temperament. He hasn’t won round Cheltenham yet, but fingers crossed he can go there and be our first Festival winner.
“You look at the likes of Paisley Park and all those (Stayers’ Hurdle) horses, that’s their one common denominator – they always have that little flat spot.
“In the Long Walk, it was actually the best I’ve seen Crambo travel and jump. He’s normally a bit behind the bridle and he’s made it hard work for Connor (Brace) on a few occasions.”
Crambo on the gallops during a visit to Fergal O’Brien’s yard (Adam Davy/PA)
Crambo came up short in a couple of Grade One assignments last season, but O’Brien insists he never lost faith.
He added: “We’re very lucky to have him and we always hoped he would develop the way he has. As a novice we ran him in two Grade Ones, in the Challow Hurdle, where it never happened for him in wet ground, and then we took him to Aintree after he won the EBF Final at Sandown.
“He was running a big race at Aintree and I think he would have been fourth, but Rachael Blackmore’s horse (Cool Survivor) fell in front of him and that sort of stopped him.
“I always believed in the horse, he won first time up this year at Aintree and then we were a little bit unlucky at Haydock. We could have gone down the Pertemps route, but I really wanted to have a crack at another Grade One and his owners were happy to go to the Long Walk.”
While many of his Festival rivals went on to contest the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in January, O’Brien decided to keep his powder dry with Crambo and is relishing the challenge.
He said: “He had a hard race at Ascot and it took him a couple of weeks to get over it and get his spark back, but Eve who rode him this morning knows him inside out and she’s delighted with him.
“I’d love to be able to tell you he’s very difficult to train, but he’d train himself. Johnny Burke took him to Lambourn on Friday and jumped 10 or 12 hurdles and he said he felt great, so I’m really happy with where he is.
“I think Cheltenham will suit him, to be fair. I think it will bring out a little bit more improvement and he does need to improve again from the Long Walk.”
Fergal O’Brien has high hopes for Crambo (Adam Davy/PA)
Assessing the likely opposition, he added: “Gordon’s (Elliott) two horses at the head of the market (Teahupoo and Irish Point) are two very good horses and there’ll be plenty of others there.
“Dashel Drasher will be there, Paisley Park will be there, Emmet Mullins’ horse (Noble Yeats) and I’m not sure what Gavin Cromwell is doing with Flooring Porter.
“They’ve all been there and done it and got the T-shirt, but Crambo’s got youth on his side and we think he’s a very good horse, so fingers crossed.”
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Fergal O’Brien is happy with his plan to send Long Walk hero Crambo straight to the Stayers’ Hurdle, as he begins to step up his star performer’s work ahead of the Cheltenham Festival.
Owned by Jared Sullivan and Chris Giles, the seven-year-old advertised his potential with some fine performances in handicap company, including when winning last year’s EBF Final at Sandown.
However, he announced himself as a major player in the staying division when outbattling the stalwart Paisley Park to claim Grade One honours at Ascot prior to Christmas.
Crambo is as short as 6-1 for Cheltenham success in the spring, but while some of his Stayers’ Hurdle counterparts will tune-up for Festival action in Saturday’s Cleeve Hurdle, O’Brien is content to prepare his charge at his Ravenswell Farm base.
“Crambo is in great form and he had a hard race at Ascot, so he’s just stepping up his work again and tipping away,” said O’Brien.
“Eve, who looks after him and rides him, is very happy with him and he actually did his first piece of work on Saturday since he won and we were very happy with him.
“He was in a proper battle with those boys at Ascot and he doesn’t need to do that again until Cheltenham, so fingers crossed he will turn up at Cheltenham in the same form as Ascot and do the job for us.
“What I loved about Ascot was he jumped the last and looked like he was going to go away and win and Paisley Park thought ‘I’m not giving this up’ and actually got back ahead of him.
“Five or six strides from the line, he managed to get back in front and started to go away again, so it will give him huge confidence and give Johnny (Burke, jockey) confidence in him.
“He doesn’t show anything at home but he just has a fantastic will to win.”
O’Brien is still to taste success at National Hunt’s showpiece meeting but will head to Prestbury Park with one of his strongest hands to date, as alongside Crambo, he is also poised to saddle Dysart Enos, who is one of the leading fancies for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
Dysart Enos will head to Doncaster on Sunday (Simon Marper/PA)
The Grade Two bumper winner has maintained her unbeaten record since switching to timber this term and is in line to complete her Festival preparations at Doncaster on Sunday in the Download The At The Races App Novices’ Hurdle.
“She hopefully goes to Doncaster on Sunday for just an ordinary novice,” continued O’Brien.
“Fingers crossed, she can have a nice clear round there, do her job and then go to Cheltenham.
“She wouldn’t be able to wait until Cheltenham, it would be too long for her, but we’ve been very happy with her.”
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Fergal O’Brien’s Crambo could head straight to the Cheltenham Festival after doing his connections proud in the Long Walk over the festive period.
The seven-year-old claimed Grade One glory at Ascot on December 23 after coming out on top in a titanic tussle with staying stalwart Paisley Park.
The extended three-mile contest was rightly hailed as one of best of the races season so far and victory was particularly meaningful to former jockey Noel Fehily, who bred the winner and is the racing manager to owner Chris Giles.
Fehily also did the early work with Crambo and takes him for pre-training ahead of each season, meaning his involvement with the promising stayer runs even deeper still.
The Saddler Maker gelding is currently a 10-1 chance for the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at the Festival in March and may not run again beforehand.
“Crambo is doing well, I’m presuming he’ll go straight to Cheltenham, but I’ve yet to talk to Fergal about it,” Fehily said.
“It was great to see him do that, that was a mighty race between him and Paisley Park – we were very happy with him.
“I bred him and I had the mare, so it’s lovely to see one you’ve known from day one go and win at that level.
“We broke him, pre-trained him, we pre-train him every year before he goes back to Fergal’s.
“He’s an absolute joy to deal with, he’s a dude of a horse. He goes out, does his thing, he’s so straightforward.”
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Crambo came out on top in a breathtaking battle of the ages with Paisley Park to claim Howden Long Walk Hurdle glory at Ascot.
Paisley Park was bidding to match the brilliant Baracouda’s record of four wins in the Grade One contest over an extended three miles.
But the popular 11-year-old just had to give way to Crambo – five years his junior, who was providing trainer Fergal O’Brien with just his second elite-level success.
Dashel Drasher set off in his customary prominent position, but there was little more than a few lengths covering all 10 runners at the halfway stage.
With four flights left to jump, it was noticeable that Paisley Park was lying handier than has often been the case and Tom Bellamy threw down a challenge between the last couple of hurdles.
However, Jonathan Burke made his move at the exact same time and the pair jumped the final obstacle together before settling down for a ding-dong battle on the run-in.
It was impossible to predict the outcome until close home, when 5-1 chance Crambo edged in front by a short head to give O’Brien a first Grade One triumph since Poetic Rhythm in 2017.
“He never knows he’s beat,” said O’Brien. “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.
A big smile from winning jockey Jonathan Burke (Steven Paston/PA)
“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 and think, ‘I’m not getting much of a feel here’, because that is just Crambo.
“He said he didn’t give him much of a feel, but I said just trust him on the day and that is what he did – and I can’t thank Johnny enough, he’s given him a fantastic ride.”
O’Brien had taken the tough decision to choose Burke ahead of Crambo’s regular rider Connor Brace.
He added: “Johnny has been riding in Grade Ones since he was 18 years of age. It was my decision, I’ve never hidden behind the owners and I just felt coming here today, I needed to tick all the boxes.
“Connor has done a fantastic job and to be honest, Connor has made this horse over the years.
“This horse hasn’t arrived here today the finished article, this is down to what Connor and all the team at home have put into him, which is what you see today.”
Crambo was cut to 8-1 for the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham by Betfair, Coral and Paddy Power.
“I’m very lucky that I have very good owners and I will speak to them when I get home, and speak to Neil (Jukes, race planner), who does our entries, and see where we go.
“I personally don’t think he needs another run before Cheltenham, but we will see.
“We’ll take it one race at a time and it’s only my second Grade One and I’ve been training 12 years. It’s been a long time between drinks and the first one was very important to me because it belonged to Chris Cooley, who I wouldn’t be here without and I’m absolutely delighted.”
Winning jockey Burke added: “The last time he tried Graded company, he finished about seventh, so it was obviously a big step up and he needed to step up and thankfully he did.
Runners and riders during the Howden Long Walk Hurdle (Steven Paston/PA)
“He travelled through the race great, jumped brilliant and his jumping was probably as slick as ever – and he battled well from the back of two out.
“It all went smoothly and I got a lovely position and his jumping kept me there. I was kind of wary of him hitting a flat spot but that never happened and as soon I straightened up, myself and Paisley had a great battle and it was kind of what the race was set up to be – those older horses against the young ones coming through.
“He’s definitely thrown his name into the staying hurdling division now. If he keeps improving on what he has done today, then he will surely be a force to be reckoned with.”
On replacing Brace, Burke said: “I’m there to do a job and get on the horse and ride him. You can get distracted by all the stuff beforehand but once you get on the horse’s back, it’s just another race.
“He travelled and jumped great and from the bottom of the straight he was always going to battle. It’s what we do it for, these Saturdays and the Graded races, so it is great.”
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