Crembo repeated his triumph of last year when he held off grimly to win the Second Howden Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.
Since his race win 12 months ago, his career has been in danger of being derailed with disappointments at Cheltenham and Aintree.
Trainer Fergal O’Brien wanted him back at Newbury last month but he wasn’t quite right, so it meant he had to compete with race-fit rivals on his seasonal return to Grade One.
Sent off at 9/1, Crumbo had a lot to do in the second last jump before his stamina kicked in.
The run was taken by Beauport, better known as the chaser, and because he was being led so easily, he appeared to have slipped the field in the second last flight.
He was still ahead, jumping last, but perhaps cleared that hurdle a bit, giving Crumbo a chance to make the climbs.
When Johnny Burke got the better of him, there was fresh danger as Henry de Bromhead’s Hiddenvale took down the last challenge, but he just fell short, with Beauport finishing third and The Wallpark fourth.
Favorite Strong Leader was one of the first to be beaten and never looked like winning.
Jungle Boogie kicks off the Christmas party
Jungle Boogie clears the Ascot fence
Jungle Boogie It gave Henry de Bromhead and Darragh O’Keeffe their first winner at Ascot. Howden Graduation Chase.
The talented but extremely fragile 10-year-old turned every yard of the run into quite an eventful affair.
Only four went to post, with only Iroko trained in the UK and the others leaving from Ireland.
Unfortunately for those backing Iroko, they learned their fate early on as he collided mid-air with a wayward Phil Dore at the first fence, giving Jonjo O’Neill Jnr no chance.
Jungle Boogie came on but the pace was only leisurely and clearly too slow for James Du Berle who was loving Daryl Jacob and making mistakes.
The leader had traveled very well in the Gold Cup when last seen but could not see the trip to Cheltenham and he began to bounce further and further to the left during the second lap.
Formerly trained by Willie Mullins, he was unbeaten in the Bumper, First Hurdle and Novice Chase, but with just three runs in almost as many years for the Clasatton handler, he then had more than two years off before joining De Bromhead.
He has been healthy ever since and is clearly a talented performer, running out an easy eight-length winner.
A family affair as Thank You Mrs. scores for the Nicholls team
Olive Nicholls on board Thank You Lady for her mother Georgie
Young rider Olive Nicholls kept it in the family with a first Ascot win Thank you ma’am came out on top Thames Materials Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.
Riding for his mother Georgie against a field that included a rival trained by his father Paul, Nicholls was prominent on the chestnut as he looked to break his duck, finishing second six times.
The duo did the whole run, settling into a great rhythm with a neat jump phase to lead around the final bend.
No-one could hit the line and it was the 11/4 favorite who won by seven-and-a-half lengths to give the mother-daughter partnership even more reason to celebrate this Christmas.
Gary and Josh Moore Mask then prevailed Hovden chasing the disabledjustifying favoritism at 13/8 under Caolin Quinn.
The six-year-old had already run well on the track twice this quarter without winning, but improved that effort to score by a length and three-quarters despite a slow last jump.
