O’Brien hoping all is set fair for big Crambo effort

Crambo bids to end a topsy-turvy season on a high in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown on Thursday.

In an almost mirror image of last term, Fergal O’Brien’s charge came out on top in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in December before losing his way in the new year, this time disappointing in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham before falling in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Festival in March.

However, he is six from six on right-handed tracks and with cheekpieces applied for the first time, O’Brien is hoping Crambo can show his true colours on his Irish debut.

“He cantered in Punchestown this (Wednesday) morning and he’s well, so fingers crossed,” said the Ravenswell Farm handler.

“We definitely need the rub of the green, which he hasn’t had on his last two runs, and we’re putting some cheekpieces on him to try to help his jumping.

“He’s beaten the second-favourite (Hiddenvalley Lake), who won in Liverpool (Aintree), so if he turns up in that sort of form, I think he’ll be there or thereabouts.

“It’s beautiful ground – they’ve done a brilliant job considering the weather. There’s an amazing covering of grass and the place looks stunning, so we’re really looking forward to him running.”

Hot favourite is Gordon Elliott’s Teahupoo, who landed this Grade One prize 12 months ago and finished second to fellow Robcour-owned gelding Bob Olinger when bidding for back-to-back Stayers’ Hurdle wins at Cheltenham.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Hiddenvalley Lake, who also carries the Robcour colours, was beaten a head by Crambo in the Long Walk and was last seen landing the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree.

Rocky’s Diamond has enjoyed an excellent campaign for Declan Queally, winning the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park before finishing fourth in the Stayers’ Hurdle.

However, Queally admitted to having concerns ahead of his final outing of the season, saying: “He came back from Cheltenham very tired, so we had to give him a good two weeks in the field to recharge and he might not be quite as ready as he was for Cheltenham.

“I’m happy we’ve got plenty of work into him, we’re pretty hopeful he’s in good order and I think a big run is on the cards, but you’re always worried about a total no-show at this time of the year.

“There is a risk of that, but we’ve got nothing to lose really, I’ve been happy with his four bits of work over the last fortnight and I think he’s 95 per cent ready, so we’ll just proceed forward and hope he runs well.

“He’ll be going out in the field next week and it’s been a great season – win, lose or draw.”