Glory for Jonjo at Newbury

» JONJO O’neill illustrated his knack for laying out a horse for a big handicap when Soaring Glory swooped to conquer in the Betfair Handicap Hurdle at Newbury.

Under the trainer’s son Jonjo Jr, the 17-2 shot looked to be travelling by far the best approaching the final flight and when given the signal, he accelerated away on the run to the line.

Soaring Glory pulled three lengths clear of Fifty Ball, with Edwardstone a length and a half back in third and Annual Invictus fourth.

Buzz in fifth was the best of Nicky Henderson’s three runners as Mister Coffey ruined his chance by hanging in the closing stages, while 11-2 favourite Cadzand failed to menace.

O’neill will almost certainly look at the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, for which Paddy Power cut Soaring Glory to 10-1 from 25s.

He said: “He’s entitled to run in it and Jonjo is riding with loads of confidence. He’s super cool and he does the job right.”

Gowel Road overcame greenness to earn himself a possible visit to Cheltenham with an all-the-way triumph for Nigel Twiston-davies and son Sam in the Read Paul Nicholls On Betting Betfair Novices’ Hurdle.

The 7-2 shot was a bit wayward at his hurdles on occasion, but after being joined by Good Ball halfway up the home straight, he soon saw off that rival on the run in to score by five and a half lengths.

Aintree is the aim for Fergal O’brien’s Polish after a fine staying performance in the Betfair Weighed-in Podcast Weekly Handicap Hurdle.

Under Paddy Brennan, the 14-1 chance gradually picked off his rivals to score by two lengths and one and three-quarters from Howling Milan and Southfield Harvest.

Brennan said: “At no point was I comfortable or happy. It was hard to be confident.”