Fergal O'Brien in tears after Crambo retains his Long Walk title in thrilling finish

"Pressure is for tyres" might be Fergal O'Brien's favourite saying, but the outpouring of emotion from a trainer tipped for the top after Crambo secured back-to-back wins in the Grade 1 Howden Long Walk Hurdle told its own story.

O'Brien's purpose-built training operation in the heart of the Cotswolds has been besieged by the dreaded lurgy through the autumn and the tears in his eyes and quiver in his voice said as much about the importance of Crambo's repeat win as the words which followed a head success over Hiddenvalley Lake under Johnny Burke.

Having to dig to the bottom of his resolve to edge out Paisley Park 12 months ago appeared to dampen Crambo's sparkle in the spring, but on his first run since April he was produced at concert pitch to join star stayers like Reve De Sivola, Big Buck's and Baracouda as a back-to-back winner of the Long Walk.

"It's been a tough time and the owners know that the horses haven't been firing," said O'Brien. "You don't want to see horses pulling up and we've had fewer runners because they haven't been quite right. But we've always kept the belief in our own system and the winning of this race was down to not running him at Newbury [in last month's Long Distance Hurdle].

"After two bad runs in the spring, I knew if we were going to see the old Crambo the best place was Ascot, but I can only do it with the owners. I'm so grateful to Chris Giles and Jared Sullivan for letting me wait, and he's shown us what we wanted to see."

Crambo was beaten 14 and a half lengths in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham after winning last year's Long Walk, but it was his reluctance to line up before being beaten 46 lengths in the Liverpool Hurdle in April which left O'Brien bamboozled, but back at Ascot his fire burned bright once more.

Ridden positively by Burke, Crambo lowered his head like a horse who wanted to win after jumping the last. Reeling in front-runner Beauport with half a furlong to run, he then resisted the late thrust of Hiddenvalley Lake.

"We had a good first half of the season last term and then the wheels came off," said O'Brien. "My one worry coming here was the memory of him at Aintree not really wanting to line up, which isn't Crambo. I was disappointed with myself for running that day, but he's come back here and showed his best.

Fergal O'Brien greets Johnny Burke and Crambo following the Long Walk HurdleCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

"It's easy for me to say it's a great training performance, but it's all down to the horse and the boys and girls at home. I'm going to start crying again but it's down to everyone at home who have been very patient with me."

The smile on the face of joint-owner Giles indicated that the wait to see Crambo this season had indeed been worthwhile, but he was in no hurry to commit his dual Grade 1 winner to another bid for the Stayers' Hurdle in March, for which sponsors Paddy Power go 16-1 (from 66).

"He never does it easy and only just wins, but it was lovely to see him back," said Giles. "Some thinking has to be done about what comes next. You wonder whether he loved Cheltenham and you wonder whether he had a hard race last year. That's one for his trainer and assistant to work out."

O'Brien said Crambo's future would be guided by his new stable jockey, who felt missing Newbury due to a dirty scope was pivotal in the seven-year-old repeating last year's win.

Jonathan Burke celebrates victory after riding Crambo to win the Long Walk Hurdle

Johnny Burke: "Crambo has been a big part of my career"Credit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

"Crambo has been a big part of my career and helped me get the job with Fergal," said Burke. "His form tailed off last year and it's a big effort by everyone, especially Eve Nicholls, who rides him out every day, to get him back. He missed the Long Distance Hurdle, but that's a blessing now. He was very, very brave and I'm very proud of him."

Connections of Hiddenvalley Lake returned to Ireland "delighted" with his second-place finish and are keen on a Stayers' Hurdle bid, while third-place Beauport will work back from the Randox Grand National.

Strong Leader, sent off the 11-8 favourite, was reported to have stopped "very quickly" by rider Sean Bowen after finishing a long last, with a full health check to follow.

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