Mega stars at Ascot
Gary Moore is not agitating for a rematch with the outstanding Cue Card just yet, despite Megastar declaring himself a serious contender for big-race honours after his hurdling debut at Ascot today.
Moore took a leap of faith by running Megastar in last season's Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, in which he finished fifth behind Colin Tizzard's runaway winner.
The five-year-old made amends by beating Dare Me in the Aintree equivalent, and there was simply nothing with which to quibble about his effort in the Robert Giles Agencies Introductory Hurdle.
A giant physical specimen, 1-2 favourite Megastar sauntered 16 lengths clear of the smart Flat performer Smokey Oakey.
"That was exactly what I was hoping for," said Moore.
"To be honest, I didn't expect him to win quite as easily as he had a slight setback about a month ago.
"He probably hasn't beaten much but he looked different class in the paddock beforehand.
"There were horses with Flat speed in there and we were worried it would turn into a sprint, but it just didn't matter.
"Cue Card battered us at Cheltenham and I won't be in a rush to take him on again, that's for sure.
"I'd like to stay low key for another run and then maybe look at something like the Tolworth at Sandown.
"We won't kill him this season - he's a chaser in the making."
Totesport offer 14-1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, with William Hill going 16s.
Nicky Henderson's Aegean Dawn was so staggeringly impressive at Cheltenham last week he was sent off at 4-11 favourite for the Canaccord Genuity Handicap Hurdle, as he was unpenalised for his previous success.
The former charge of Robert and Sally Alner replicated that performance by toying with last season's classy juvenile Mille Chief.
"To do Mille Chief for toe after the last he must be pretty special," said jockey David Bass.
Henderson added: "He goes up 21lb from Saturday, so he had to run. With that amount in hand, he really had to win.
"The only thing that matters is his chasing career, so it is just a case of tip-toeing through this season and I don't know where we'll go now."
It was similarly smooth sailing for stablemate Master Of The Hall on his first try over fences in the Not Forgotten Association Beginners' Chase, although the 10-11 favourite and his jockey Barry Geraghty were at cross-purposes at the last and only just scrambled over.
"I waited for company going to the second-last and he jumped it brilliantly and I was left on my own then and just rolled onto the last," said Geraghty.
"I just started squeezing him and he started backing off, so by the time we met it, he was in no man's land.
"But I had plenty left and that's what mattered."
Henderson added: "He will learn a lot from this and, up to that point, he did everything nicely.
"He would get three miles but isn't slow, and could easily go back to two and a half."
Geraghty appeared en route to an easy victory on 6-5 favourite Sprinter Sacre in the Redstone "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle, but Frascati Park (100-30) had other ideas.
Prolific in bumpers for Carl Llewellyn, the six-year-old was set some stiff tasks in his first season for Nigel Twiston-Davies but his team never lost faith and he kicked clear again after shaking off Sprinter Sacre's challenge.
"Barry came looming up alongside me, but my fellow is as tough as old boots," said jockey Paddy Brennan, securing his 50th winner of the season.
"His form in bumpers and over hurdles was really solid and he loved the track - he could easily come back here."
Punters were evidently confident Matuhi (15-8 favourite) would improve for a transfer to David Pipe and so it proved in the Intrinsic Financial Services Handicap Chase as he evaded the short-lived attentions of Five Dream to record a winning margin of nine lengths.
Quinz (15-8 favourite) followed up last month's Exeter success by taking the Atlantic Enterprises Handicap Chase just as impressively.
