Sivola takes another Long Walk Reve De Sivola made all the running to claim back-to-back renewals of the Wessex Youth Trust Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot. Trained by Nick Williams and ridden by Richard Johnson, the eight-year-old's stamina came to the fore in the exacting conditions at the Berkshire circuit as he gamely held off Salubrious by 10 lengths to win at 9-4. At Fishers Cross, the 8-11 favourite, looked well beaten though in second place when he ditched jockey Tony McCoy at the final flight with a jump reminiscent of the bad one he made last time out at Newbury. Connections of Salubrious might feel a little hard done by as the six-year-old made a costly gaffe two out when seemingly still full of running. Johnson said: "He's a very honest horse - he's a very good horse. He's a very, very good hurdler and we know soft ground suits him very well." Reve De Sivola is unlikely to run in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in January, which he won last year, but remains in contention for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Festival in March. Williams said: "He crashed through a couple of them, but on softer ground like this, he can really let himself down. "I don't think we'll go for the Cleeve Hurdle again, but we will go for the World Hurdle. Perhaps if we can also find him an easier race in February, that might be the way to go." Trainer Paul Nicholls said of Salubrious: "The jockey (Daryl Jacob) thought if he hadn't missed the second-last, he would have won. But it's still a decent effort and we know we've got plenty of staying options for him."
