One Gulp, the talented mare who trainer Paul Webber hoped would propel his Mollington stables, near Banbury, into the big time, has run her last race after suffering a serious injury in the BGC Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot, writes Russell Smith.

Webber believed the five-year-old could be his ‘Best Mate, Desert Orchid or Istabraq’.

But now those dreams lie in tatters after One Gulp almost completely ruptured her right front tendon just before the eighth flight in Saturday’s Grade 1 contest won by Punchestowns.

Dominic Elsworth pulled her up after the hurdle, and Webber said: ”He deserves great credit for not allowing her injury to become catastrophic.

“The Ascot vets and staff were fantastic and there were already two of them and a horse ambulance at the scene by the time we got to 'Gulpie'.

“How these things happen is inexplicable, it's a case of the forces of nature and fate clashing together for a horrible instant.”

One Gulp returned to Webber’s Cropredy Lawn stables on Saturday night, and now she is destined for a career at stud.

“We are so fortunate that with a calm, uneventful convalescence, for her RIP will mean 'rest in paddock' and 'retire into pregnancy', rather than something much worse,” added Webber.

One Gulp won five of her ten starts, including Listed hurdles at Cheltenham and Kempton, earning £60,090 in total prize money.

Henrietta Knight’s West Lockinge stables, near Wantage, experienced the game’s up and downs at Ludlow.

She sent out the promising King Of Leon to spring a 25-1 surprise in the concluding bumper – just half an hour after seeing Forest Perk put down after breaking a leg in a mares’ novices hurdle.

King Of Leon had disappointed when fancied on his debut at Uttoxeter in October.

But with Sam Thomas aboard, the four-year-old left that performance well behind him by beating previous winners Kerada and Valleyofthedolls in good style.

Knight plans to send him hurdling in the new year.

Hughie Morrison’s East Ilsley stables also keep notching up the winners with Young Bertie providing the latest success at Lingfield.

Travis Block got the five-year-old home by a neck from Moon Crystal in a mile handicap.