Reports, reaction and free video replays from the rest of Ascot's Long Walk Hurdle card

Wilful boost for the O'Neills

Jonjo O’Neill received a much needed boost following a difficult first half of the 2025/26 National Hunt campaign after Wilful showed his rivals a clean pair of hooves in the Ascot Rotary Club Handicap Hurdle.

Having shut his yard down for a few weeks in November following a string of poor results O’Neill, who trains in partnership with his son AJ, has slowly seen the form of his yard begin to turn around.

And the father-and-son partnership received the ideal early Christmas present after the gelded son of Westerner was delivered to perfection to strike gold in the £125,000 feature to complete a double on the card for winning jockey Jonjo O’Neill Jr.

Picking up well after the back of the last the 15/2 chance had too many gears for outsider Hot Fuss with two and three quarter lengths separating the pair at the line to leave the triumphant joint-trainer excited about more big targets in the second half of the season.

Jonjo O’Neill said: “It is nice to see them come out of it (the shut down), and come out of it well. It is great for the staff and everyone involved as everyone gets a bit down when things are down, but that is only natural and human. We have had supportive owners and that is what we need.

“It was a good run at Chepstow and he has come forward from there. He is going in the right direction. We did look at the Greatwood, but there weren’t firing at the time. We are very lucky that we have good owners that waited and gave him time.

“That is the answer to everything really. Patience is the name of the game. We will go back to the drawing board and have a look in the morning and make a plan. The William Hurdle could be a target, but we will work back from where we think we can go.”

National dream alive with Deep Cave

Dreams of an appearance in this season’s Randox Grand National could soon be about to turn into reality for Deep Cave, who made it two wins from two starts this season after getting the better of a pulsating conclusion to the Howden Silver Cup Handicap Chase.

In a race of contrasting fortunes the Christian Williams-trained seven-year-old put his head down where it mattered most to follow up his comeback success at Bangor 38 days ago in the £100,000 contest.

As long time leader Henry’s Friend waved the white flag turning it was left to Leave Of Absence to take the field down to the final two fences in the three mile prize, however there was still plenty in behind that appeared to hold some kind of chance.

And having saved ground up the inside all the way around it was to be Deep Cave that was to emerge victorious when bursting through a gap close to the running rail before forging on past Leave Of Absence to score by a head.

Williams said of the 10/1 winner: “He was probably the least experienced in the race so we just took our time and if it didn’t happen today there was going to be plenty of other days for him. This was the big hope this season and we keep praying horses like this turn up.

“For him to have gone and done what he has done twice this season is great and hopefully it will be on to bigger targets. It is great to come to Ascot with the family and good owners, and a horse like this with Jack (Tudor) riding is great.

“Before Aintree he came to us from France and he didn’t have much of a break. He had a tough time in France as he had two neck breaking falls around Auteuil over the easier fences. Bangor was a great track to start off. He looked a bit cold and jumped a bit big over the first three, but he warmed into it then. He just probably lacked a bit of experience early in the race, but he got a great ride. Jack took his time and produced him at the right time.

“We thought it was a little bit of a rush for the Becher Chase so we thought this was the obvious race. We are just trying to work back from the Grand National really.

“He only went up four pounds for Bangor, and he might not quite get in, but there is no panic with him as he was the youngest horse in the race.”

Iroko wins ahead of Grand ambition

Iroko took another step closer towards a return outing in the Randox Grand National after securing his first success in more than two years with victory in the Howden Graduation Chase at Ascot.

Without a victory to his name since making a winning debut over fences at Warwick in November 2023 the giant-framed seven-year-old, who finished fourth in last season’s Grand National, changed that statistic on his second start of the campaign.

Tracking leader, and favourite, Firefox, for much of the two mile five furlong prize the Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, took command off matters under Jonjo O’Neill Jr on jumping the final fence.

Although still needing to put the race to bed the 2-1 chance was not to be denied with O’Neill pushing his mount out to score by four and three quarter lengths much to the delight of his triumphant connections.

Greenall said: “He just needed to go and have a race today. I know it was only a three runner field, but they quickened fairly early up the hill and he has just had to grind it out.

“He just takes time get into gear. It was good to see him lengthen and get his head down. It was tight at the second last and good at the last.

“I don’t know if those two (Firefox and James Du Berlais) have quite run up to their marks to be honest with you. The Willie Mullins horse (James Du Berlais) definitely hasn’t as he never looked like he was going and Gordon’s (Elliott) just made a few jumping errors near the end. He has done well.”

And Iroko is likely to head back to Kelso for the bet365 Premier Chase at Kelso in February ahead of a second tilt at the Grand National, which he was trimmed into 8/1 favourite for from 10/1 by Paddy Power.

Greenall added: “We were saying we might go back to Kelso for the race we were second to Grey Dawning last season.

“That is over two miles and seven furlongs. It is a nice track, and not many runners go there. We will then probably miss Cheltenham and go straight to the Grand National.

“He seems better, but trainers always say they strengthen up and look better. Jonjo comes and rides him and he says he is a lot better.”

Jak of all trades for Nicholls

Jakar Du Moulin demonstrated the best of his battling abilities to get off the mark for the campaign with a hard-fought success from the front in the Karen Codd Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

Although only finishing fifth on his return to action at Exeter the gelded son of Kapgarde took a significant step forward for that outing when pulling out just enough under Harry Cobden on his second start since undergoing a wind operation.

Having been front rank throughout the extended two miles and seven furlongs contest, the 15/2 chance looked booked for second after being headed over the last by Duel Au Soleil, but the six-year-old was not to be denied after getting up late to score by a head.

Nicholls said: “He ran well that day at Exeter, but as you can see he is still a big baby. Last season he struggled with his breathing. He travelled well, but I couldn’t believe he didn’t win any as he kept stopping so we did his wind.

"I thought he would win at Exeter, but it didn’t happen. He has improved and he did that nicely. He is as green as grass as you can see.

“We spoke about it this morning and Harry said I don’t think there is much pace. I said he is slow and he will gallop so just bowl along in front.

"I was always fairly confident he would find enough. He was a bit slow at the last but he kept galloping.

“He won’t go chasing this season, that will be next season, but that will be when he is at his best. He is no superstar but he will win plenty of staying chases in time.”

Dan hails diamond Harry after Etalon elation

Dan Skelton hailed the ride his brother Harry gave to Etalon as ‘the best ride you will ever see’ following their victory in the Howden Handicap Chase.

The eight-year-old, who was sporting first time cheekpieces, had become something of an enigma after posting just one win from his previous twelve starts having promised so much as a novice chaser.

But the gelded son of Sholokhov responded well to an aggressive ride from the front by the 2020/21 champion jump jockey to collect top spot in the £35,000 contest.

After burning off almost all his rivals turning for home it was only the equally prominently ridden Scarface that posed some kind of threat over the last two fences.

However, after seeing off that rival over the penultimate fence the 18/1 chance bounded on after the last before landing the two mile three furlong prize by two and a half lengths.

The winning trainer said: “That is the best ride you will ever see. Harry has nicked it as he had no right to win whatsoever. He ran ordinary last time. Harry has gone out there and made the most of him, got him into a rhythm and got the others beat.

“He held him up at the side of the track. It was the best ride you will ever see. I know everyone credits lots of jockeys but Harry doesn’t get half of the credit that he deserves for good rides as he is riding for us all the time. That is the finest ride you will ever see.

“I promise you now that horse might not win for ten runs. Make no mistakes, that is an unbelievable ride as you ride him any other way and he can’t win. After the second jump I thought he had won as Harry could then dictate it.”

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