Colin Tizzard’s Finian’s Oscar maintained his unbeaten record over hurdles to three wins with a decisive victory in a Listed contest at Exeter.
The five-year-old son of Oscar justified prohibitive odds of 1/16 with a comfortable success under jockey Tom O’Brien.
Prominent throughout, Alan and Ann Potts’ gelding quickened clear entering the home straight and was hardly asked a question by O’Brien as the Tolworth Hurdle winner sauntered to a four and a half-length success from David Pipe’s Taws.
Tizzard and his team must now make a decision as to whether the progressive hurdle runs in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle over two-miles at the Cheltenham Festival or the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle over a longer trip of two and a half-miles. He heads the betting for the latter contest at 4/1 and is a general 10/1 for the Supreme.
Tizzard told Racing UK:
That hasn’t told us anything and I’m still in the dark as to whether he will run in the Neptune or the Supreme. I really don’t know which one.
We will talk about it in the next two weeks. All we know is that was only his third hurdle race and it shows his well-being, nothing more. He’s a very relaxed horse, as we saw today, but we haven’t really gained anything.
The Dorset handler’s much hyped French import Alary took a bad fall in the graduation chase on the same card but thankfully got up. His chances of running in the Gold Cup now look over.
Finian’s Oscar’s success capped a superb weekend for the trainer whose Native River won the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury on Saturday, enhancing his Gold Cup credentials with Morello Royale also tasting success on the same card.
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