Flu-hit trainer Jonjo O'Neill received an invigorating tonic as his injury-plagued charge Legal Right put up a spectacular display at Ascot.

The seven-year-old defied top-weight and a long absence to smash his rivals into submission in the £45,000 Tote Silver Cup.

It prompted bookmakers Ladbrokes to slash Legal Right to 7-1 the Tote offer 10s for the Pertemps King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.

O'Neill, who watched the race from his sickbed, said: ''I'm as weak as a kitten but that has cheered me up no end.

''He has shown his class today but the opposition might not have been that good and the King George might just come a bit too soon.''

Legal Right has suffered from intermittent lameness for some time and had been unable to race since winning the Tripleprint Gold Cup at Cheltenham in December last year.

Sent off a 7-1 chance for his comeback, he could be named the winner from some way out as he travelled sweetly on the bridle.

Once let loose by Norman Williamson he drew clear in fine style to defeat Royal Predica by 15 lengths.

Williamson said: ''I was really impressed. He travelled and jumped super and might be a Gold Cup horse.''

Legal Right is now 14-1 for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup with Ladbrokes and 25-1 with the sponsors.

But whether he will make it for any of the big races is by no means certain.

''He'll probably be a cripple in the morning and you just can't make plans,'' O'Neill added.

''He did it really well today but he's not guaranteed to run in the King George and the Gold Cup is simply too far away to even think about.''

Francois Doumen set up himself up for a possible December bonanza by scooping two handsome prizes with Ben Ewar and Baracouda.

The French trainer is in the Far East at present preparing Jim And Tonic, who is favourite for tomorrow's Hong Kong Cup.

Then on Boxing Day he will run the strongly-fancied First Gold in the King George VI Chase.

Baracouda, ridden by the trainer's son Thierry, left his rivals trailing in the Cantor Index Long Walk Hurdle.

He easily brushed aside Deano's Beano and strolled away on the run-in to score by 14 lengths in the Grade One event.

''This was easier than I expected. By the last bend I just couldn't hold him any more and he was away,'' said Doumen jnr.

Baracouda's owner Roger Barby said: ''Originally we had thought about aiming him at the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle at Cheltenham but the way he's won here he might just scrape home in the Stayers' Hurdle.''

Jumping newcomer Ben Ewar displayed a potent turn of foot to pass two horses on the run-in to take the Capel Cure Sharp Novices' Hurdle.

Victor Chandler quote the entire at 33-1 for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.

Ben Ewar could return to Ascot next month for a race on Victor Chandler day.

After two below-par efforts Galant Moss came good over fences for the first time when guided by Tony McCoy to a 19-length defeat of Shooting Light in the Mitie Group Novices' Chase.

Trainer Martin Pipe said: ''I can't explain his poor run at Haydock last time but he's jumped well and stayed on well today.''

The Royal & SunAlliance Chase is a possible target at the Cheltenham Festival though there is the option of a switch to a handicap at the showpiece meeting.

For the second time in a row at Ascot Get Real was agonisingly caught on the run-in after a holding a substantial lead at the final fence.

On this occasion it was Celibate who got up close home to land the spoils by half a length in the Archmold Handicap Chase.

The pair are now set for a rematch in next month's Victor Chandler Chase.

Pipe and McCoy completed a first and last race double when Valiramix reeled in Scarlet Pimpernel after the last in the Brunswick Knights Royal Hurdle.

Charlie Mann was fined £220 by the Ascot stewards for failing to inform them of the reasons for Celibate's below-par showing last time.

It emerged that the nine-year-old had pulled muscles when pulled up at Cheltenham.

l Crimson Tide booked his ticket for the Arena Leisure Winter Derby at Lingfield in March with a convincing display in the Harper and Edwards Conditions Stakes at the Surrey track.

The 4-7 favourite, ridden by Matthew Henry, took the lead over three furlongs from home and galloped on strongly to beat Burgundy by a length and a quarter.

Winning trainer John Hills said: ''He was a bit better than these and just enjoyed himself.

''There are a couple more conditions races for him in January and February and then the Sand Derby."