O'Neill Jnr 'wouldn't swap Soaring Glory' in red-hot Betfair Hurdle

3.35 Newbury
Betfair Hurdle (Grade 3 handicap) | 2m½f, 4yo+ | ITV4/RTV

Jonjo O'Neill Jnr believes there is plenty more to come from the highly regarded Soaring Glory who looks to continue the excellent run of novices in the £125,000 Betfair Hurdle.

The six-year-old has won just once from four starts this season, when beating Ballymore favourite Bravemansgame at Chepstow, but is expected to thrive on better ground this spring.

Seven of the last nine Betfair Hurdle winners were making their handicap debut which bodes well for Soaring Glory, starting life in this sphere off a mark of 133.

"He's got a lovely weight and hopefully he's improving – we always thought he'd be a better horse in the spring," the jockey said.

Soaring Glory (right): second at Newbury to Dusart in NovemberCredit: Michael Steele / Getty Images

"He's got some good form in the book at Chepstow, but I think his Newbury second was even better, that was a really strong race. He got a bit stuck in the mud the last day [at Ascot], but with him the better the ground, the better the chance.

Victory in Britain's richest handicap hurdle would be an important milestone in the career of the 22-year-old jockey, who added: "You need a lot of luck in running as there are seven or eight horses in the race with a similar profile. But he's in really good form at home and I certainly wouldn't swap him. I'm really looking forward to it."

His biggest threat looks to be the hat-trick-seeking Cadzand, aiming to give Dan and Harry Skelton a first success in this famous handicap.

Dan Skelton said: "We've had this race in mind for him for a while now. He looks well and I'm happy with him, and he's jumped well this week so there'll be no excuses for him."

What they say

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Buzz, Fred and Mister Coffey
Buzz is in very good form. This has been his plan, but he's finished with top weight because he's been running well. Fred's going back over hurdles, he's in good form. Ground is important to him and with good to soft the description we decided that's where to go. Mister Coffey will love it. We've had to ride him with rather exaggerated tactics both times this season, but we won't have to this time, I hope.

Philip Hobbs, trainer of Gumball
He failed to jump particularly well in a novice chase last time, and I didn't want to run him over fences again on very soft ground. He'd have a good each-way chance.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Thyme White and Wild Max
Thyme White is in great shape, he ran very well at Chepstow first time and then was running a super race in the Gerry Feilden. We've just waited for some better ground for him. Wild Max will need to have improved again, just on handicap ratings, but it wouldn't surprise me if he has.

Edwardstone (near): one of two runners for Alan KingCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Alan King, trainer of Edwardstone and On To Victory
Edwardstone looks to have a strong chance. He won in good style at Market Rasen last time out and has come on for that. I'm also hopeful for On To Victory.

Ben Pauling, trainer of Shakem Up'Arry
He's in good order, but I hope there's more rain around as good to soft wouldn't be right up his street. But he's the sort of horse that does well in this race and I hope he'll do himself justice.

David Pipe, trainer of Night Edition
He's a big price but he might outrun his odds. He finished second in the Boodles at Cheltenham last year and has a big handicap in him somewhere down the line.

Evan Williams, trainer of Mack The Man and Ballinsker
I loved Mack The Man's performance last time because, although he didn't win by far, it was lovely to get that under his belt. I've got no issues with track or ground, there's just 23 other reasons it'll be tough. Ballinsker wants decent ground and I think there's a very good handicap hurdle in him when everything falls right.

Gary Moore, trainer of Fifty Ball
He hasn't been able to run since December, but hopefully he's pretty fit. Whether he's good enough is another thing, but I've certainly gone close in this race with horses who don't have his ability.

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