Crambo repeated his success last year when he held on to win a second Howden Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.
Since winning the race 12 months ago, his career has been in danger of going off the rails, following disappointments at Cheltenham and Aintree.
Trainer Fergal O'Brien had asked him to make a reappearance at Newbury last month, but he was not well, so it meant he had to take on Grade A contenders. h-One when he returned seasonally.
Set off at 9/1, Crambo had plenty to do jumping the second last before his stamina kicked in.
The race was led by Beauport, better known as a chaser, and as he was given such an easy lead, at the second flight he seemed to have slipped the field.
He was still in the lead jumping the last one, but maybe he cleared that hurdle just a little too much, which allowed Crambo to take advantage.
Once Johnny Burke was mastered, there was a new threat, as Hiddenvalley Lake put down Henry de Bromhead's last challenge, but failed by a head. Beauport continued for third place, with The Wallpark in fourth place.
The favorite Strong Leader was one of the first to be beaten and did not look like winning.
Jungle Boogie starts the Christmas party
Jungle Boogie clears a fence at Ascot
Jungle Boogie brought Henry de Bromhead and Darragh O'Keeffe with their first winner at Ascot last year Howden Graduation Pursuit.
The talented but extremely fragile 10-year-old made every yard of the run in what turned out to be a very entertaining affair.
Only four went to the post, with only Iroko trained in the UK, while the others traveled over from Ireland.
Unfortunately for those who supported Iroko, they knew their fate early on, as when he jumped the first fence he collided with Fil Dor in mid-air, giving Jonjo O' Neil Jr.
Jungle Boogie led the field but the pace was only calm and clearly too slow for James Du Berlais, who was keen on Daryl Jacob and made mistakes.
The leader had traveled very well in the Gold Cup when he was last seen but failed to see the trip to Cheltenham, and on the second round he began to jump more and more out to his left.
Formerly trained by Willie Mullins, he was unbeaten in a handicap, maiden hurdle and a novice chase, but having secured just three runs in almost as many years for the Closutton handler, over two years off then before joining De Bromhead.
He has been strong since then, however, and is clearly a talented performer, running out an easy eight-length winner.
A family affair like Thank You Ma'am scores for the Nicholls team
Olive Nicholls on board Thank you Ma'am for her mother Georgie
Young rider Olive Nicholls kept it in the family with a first win at Ascot as Thank you Ma'am came out above in the Thames Materials Novices' Hurdle Handicaps.
Riding for her mother Georgie against a field that included a rival trained by her father Paul, Nicholls took a prominent position on the cobblestone as he tried to get his duck break after finishing second six times.
Both did the whole run, settling into a lovely rhythm with a quick round of jumps to take the final bend in front.
No-one could get a hit on the line, and he was the 11/4 favorite who succeeded to seven and a half to give the mother and daughter partnership more reason to celebrate this Christmas.
Gary and Josh Moore Kotmask then won in the Howden Handicap Chasejustifies favor at 13/8 under Caolin Quinn.
The six-year-old had run well twice on the track already this term without winning, but bettered those efforts to score by three-quarter lengths , despite a slow jump at the end.
