'It's a monkey off our back' - Sam Thomas's Our Power in Coral Gold Cup frame

Saturday: Ascot

The Coral Gold Cup dream is still alive for connections of Our Power after his success in the Bateaux London Gold Cup Handicap Chase.

He was cut to 10-1 (from 20s) by Paddy Power for the prestigious staying handicap on November 26 after staying on best to beat Danny Kirwan by two lengths, with the favourite Tea Clipper in third.

"We haven't had many runners this season, so we didn't quite know how today was going to pan out, but it's a monkey off our back to have a big one," said Thomas, who enjoyed a breakthrough season last campaign, highlighted by Iwilldoit's Welsh Grand National win.

"Our Power will never win by too far. He's your typical horse off the Flat – he's streetwise and is never going to overexert himself – but he's genuine and we'll aim him at the Coral Gold Cup.

"We wouldn't have got in off a mark of 135, so he had to win. Fingers crossed, that will sneak us in. You'd think a flat track like Newbury will suit him."

Highway's 'rock-and-roll' win

"Rock-and-roll" tactics worked wonders for Highway One O Two when he made all to land the 1m7½f handicap hurdle for Chris Gordon.

The seven-year-old, who was second in last year's Lanzarote Hurdle behind Cobblers Dream, was just denied at Fontwell on his seasonal reappearance, but he was not for catching this time and stretched seven and a half lengths clear of Hacker Des Places under Gavin Sheehan.

Highway One O Two: an emphatic winner for Chris GordonCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

"The ground was a bit firmer at Fontwell but he still ran an absolute blinder with my son Freddie on board," said Gordon.

"We thought we lost him a bit towards the end of last season. Today we decided to go out in front and rock and roll, and luckily it worked incredibly well."

The trainer saddled a double when Leave Of Absence justified 8-11 favouritism to land the 1m7½f novice hurdle under Tom Cannon. He was third in the Grade 2 bumper at Aintree in April and took the step up to hurdling in his stride when finishing clear of Blow Your Wad.

"He wants a trip," added Gordon. "He's a relentless galloper. We had to do it the hard way, which is what he had to do in bumpers. We'll gently step him up in trip but for now we'll keep him at two miles."

He was denied a treble when Alto Alto missed out by a neck after the Emma Lavelle-trained favourite Dream In The Park rallied late under Jack Wildman in the novice handicap hurdle for conditional jockeys.

Thymed right

Lorcan Williams snaked through the field before claiming the 2m1f handicap chase with a beautifully timed ride on Thyme White.

The Paul Nicholls-trained winner bounced back after falling in the Grade 3 Red Rum Handicap Chase when finishing four and three-quarter lengths clear, despite a slightly wayward jump at the last.

"He didn't jump well at Aintree but didn't really miss a fence today," said assistant trainer Charlie Davies. "He got there with a well-timed run and it's a lovely pot to win. It was a great ride and a good bit of placing from the boss – his placement of horses is second to none."

Nicholls and Williams recorded a double when Fire Flyer landed the bumper from 20-1 shot Way Out.

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