'Let's see how good he is' - Jonjo O'Neill sweet on high-flying Soaring Glory

Jonjo O'Neill is keen to see how high Soaring Glory can fly this season after last season's Betfair Hurdle winner made an impressive return to action in the 1m7½f Listed handicap hurdle.

Soaring Glory has long been held in high regard by O'Neill and, although he has all the physical attributes to excel over fences one day, his trainer is hoping he can reach greater heights over hurdles first.

"He did his job well and jumped nicely," said the trainer. "He's filled his frame now and when he came in from the summer we felt he was way stronger and hopefully he will go on. He has a good engine and likes a good gallop."

Paddy Power cut the winner to 5-1 (from 12) for the Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on November 14 but he could wait until Newbury's Ladbrokes Trophy meeting at the end of November.

"We might look at the Gerry Feilden at Newbury next," said O'Neill. "The Greatwood might come a bit quick but we'll see how he comes out of this race. We were always keen to stay over hurdles this season. Let's see how good he is."

Young gun

Nassalam, a runner-up at the highest level over hurdles last season, made the most of his four-year-old weight allowance to make a winning debut over fences in the 2m3f novice limited handicap.

Second in the Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow, Nassalam had been set for a second season over hurdles before a "deadly" schooling session at Gary Moore's yard made connections think again.

Solo and Nassalam serve up an Ascot thrillerCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Despite an early error under the trainer's son Jamie and a tendency to jump to his left, Nassalam was bold at his fences and stuck his neck out where it mattered to edge out Solo in a tight finish.

"His owner John Stone came down to see his two horses at the end of last season," said Moore. "His other horse, Botox Has, was always going chasing so we schooled him and we just thought we'd try Nassalam with him and he was deadly. He jumped so well that with his weight allowance we had to go this route."

Moore said he is in no rush to go right-handed again and will carefully consider Nassalam's next target over fences.

"I don't really want to go right-handed again," the trainer added. "He gave so much ground away today but he's a brave horse because he did make a slight mistake at the first ditch and could have thrown in the towel."

Mixed emotions

It was a day of mixed emotions for the Moore family, who completed a 39-1 double when Larry landed the £100,000 London Gold Cup but had Aintree winner Editeur Du Gite unseat his rider at the last in the 2m1f Listed handicap chase, while highly touted stablemate Shallewehaveonemore was caught only close home in the 1m7½f novice hurdle.

Larry: one of three winners for Jamie Moore at AscotCredit: Mark Cranham

Larry gave the yard a third win in the Bateaux London Gold Cup in six years and Moore said: "He would have won at Fakenham the other day and was desperately unlucky. This is massive compensation.

"He's a great horse and when he won at Sandown a couple of years ago Jamie said there's a big race in him but he got a leg. Luckily he's got a patient owner and he's won a nice prize for him today."

Editeur Du Gite was given a clean bill of health after his mishap, while Shallewehaveonemore lost little in defeat to Kandoo Kid after pulling hard for the majority of what looked an intriguing race on paper.

Harry Derham, assistant to Kandoo Kid's trainer Paul Nicholls, said: "It was a good race and he's obviously quite smart. He's probably got a few more gears than he shows at home. He'll get further but having won at two miles, there's no rush to go up in trip. He's very much a future chaser."

Jamie Moore completed a 159-1 treble when partnering Estacas to victory in the 1m7½f bumper. The win gave German trainer Andreas Wohler his first win at Ascot since Novellist won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at this track in 2013.

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