Burke backing Crambo to banish memories of last visit to Cheltenham

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.”

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.

“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.