Christmas Hurdle win for Gifford's six-year-old

The Nick Gifford-trained Straw Bear (Diesis - Highland Ceilidh, by Scottish Reel), who disappointed in the race last year, won the Grade One Christmas Hurdle over two miles at Kempton on Wednesday, beating recent Fighting Fifth win Harchibald under an astute ride from AP McCoy. Penzanze - fourth to Osana at Cheltenham recently - was third.