Boxing Day Racing Tips: Back Oscar to show his Magic at Kempton

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Cheltenham News: Sivola and Oscar top World field

Leading contenders Reve De Sivola and Oscar Whisky form part of a wide-open field of 14 for the World Hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday...

With staying colossus and four-times winner Big Buck's sidelined through injury, a new name will be etched on the trophy, with Nick Williams' Long Walk and Cleeve Hurdle victor Reve De Sivola seemingly the chief pretender to the World Hurdle throne.

Oscar Whisky was well beaten when fifth 12 months ago for Nicky Henderson but got close to Reve De Sivola in the Cleeve and tries again.

Peddlers Cross, winner of the Neptune Novices' Hurdle here in 2010, when he beat Reve De Sivola by a length and a half, and runner-up in the Champion Hurdle of 2011, represents Donald McCain.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Big Buck's, saddles Wonderful Charm and Celestial Halo, while Henderson also runs Oscara Dara.

A strong Irish team features Bog Warrior, Zaidpour, So Young and Solwhit.

Dual race winner Albertas Run features among eight declared runners for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham on Thursday.

Jonjo O'Neill's 12-year-old won the two-mile-five-furlong showpiece in 2010 and 2011, as well as finishing second to Riverside Theatre last year, but has not run since last year's Grand National meeting at Aintree.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Riverside Theatre reopposes, having himself only run twice since his big day 12 months ago, and 2010 Champion Bumper hero Cue Card takes his chance for Colin Tizzard.

Plenty of interest will surround the Mouse Morris-trained First Lieutenant, who runs in this race in preference to the Gold Cup on Friday.

The Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding was beaten just a head by Tidal Bay in the Lexus over three miles at Christmas and prior to that was third to Gold Cup favourite Bobs Worth in the Hennessy at Newbury.

Morris said: "The decision has been made to let him run in the Ryanair and I think with the way the ground has gone, it's probably the right decision."

Champion Court, For Non Stop, Menorah and Ghizao complete the line-up.

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World Hurdle: Geraghty expecting more from Oscar

"I don't think we saw the best of him, but I think he got the trip so the World Hurdle is a big option for him..."

Barry Geraghty believes Oscar Whisky was not at his best in the Cleeve Hurdle on Saturday, despite him finishing a narrowly-beaten second...

Nicky Henderson's dual Aintree Hurdle winner has posed an ante-post conundrum for punters with some believing he holds a lively chance in the Champion Hurdle and others thinking he is tailor-made for the World Hurdle.

Saturday's run was only the second time he has tackled the World Hurdle trip of three miles, finishing fifth in the big race last season, and he went down only narrowly in heavy ground to Reve De Sivola.

However, Geraghty did not feel comfortable at any stage, suggesting better can be expected in March.

"He never travelled with anywhere near the same zest as he has done his last few runs," Geraghty told At The Races.

"I don't think we saw the best of him, but I think he got the trip so the World Hurdle is a big option for him."

Oscar Whisky has hardened in the betting for the World Hurdle after Saturday's encouraging effort, now trading as favourite at 6.05/1.

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Grand National News: Time called on Oscar season

News / Timeform / 24 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Oscar Time has been ruled out for the season.

"He just has a slight tendon injury. It's nothing huge, but it's enough to keep him out for the season, which is obviously disappointing..."

Last season's Grand National runner-up Oscar Time has been ruled out for the season with a leg injury...

Running in the colours of last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Long Run, the 11-year-old almost gave owner Robert Waley-Cohen and his rider-son Sam a huge double at Aintree last April, but had to make do with the runner-up spot behind Donald McCain's Ballabriggs.

Following a creditable run over hurdles at Thurles in November, trainer Martin Lynch had been looking forward to another crack at the world's most famous steeplechase, but he will now not be making the trip across the Irish Sea.

"It's a big blow but it's not career-threatening and the main thing is he's still in one piece," said Lynch.

"He just has a slight tendon injury. It's nothing huge, but it's enough to keep him out for the season, which is obviously disappointing.

"He'd been in tremendous form since his run over hurdles - even better than he was this time last year if anything.

"He's a horse we've minded during his career so hopefully he'll be back next season."

While refusing to make any concrete plans, Lynch has raised the possibility of the gelding running in next season's Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival before another bid for Grand National glory.

"We'll obviously make plans nearer the time, but there's a possibility he could go down the hunter chase route and go to Cheltenham before he goes back to Aintree. It's all up in the air at the minute," the trainer added.

Robert Waley-Cohen said: "It's unfortunate and it just shows you how difficult it is just to get horse and jockey to the races at the top of their game.

"We were looking forward to running in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse as we wanted to get another run into him before Aintree.

"He's lightly raced and it's not unheard of for a 12-year-old to win the National, so hopefully he'll still be up to it next year. Fingers crossed."

Hurricane Fly features among just six remaining entries for the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown......

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Grand National Thoughts: Oscar, Oscar - It's Time to win, over

Tipping / Kieran Packman / 06 April 2011 / Leave a Comment

Tidal Bay is one to oppose for Kieran Packman

"‘Mercurial’, ‘enigmatic’, ‘a conundrum’. All of these are likely to be used this week to describe Tidal Bay. ‘A right dog’ is probably that which will resonate with most punters."

Kieran Packman gives us his unique take on the National betting

The National winner - Oscar Time. Irish National form. Reliable jumper. Jockey with good record over National fences. Favourable Timeform rating. At the 'right' end of the weights. Irish trainer I've never heard of. All positives. Stamina is his potential Achilles heel, but I'm inclined to think his fading finish last time out was attributable to fitness as this was always going to be the focus.

A Lively Long Shot - Becauseicouldntsee. Still relatively unexposed and, like many of the Irish contingent, has intentionally been lightly-raced with this race in mind this season. His second in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2010 proved both his stamina, his ability to show his form on good ground and showcased his potential for a race of this calibre. 25/1+ underestimates his credentials.

A Horse To Place - Don't Push It. Looked far from an obvious type for the National fences 12 months ago, then went and won anyway. I think the fairly comfortable nature of his win has been overlooked, not least by the official handicapper, and he'll be in the frame if he turns up in the same heart.

A Poor Favourite - Backstage. Gordon Elliott is a superb trainer and for that reason this horse has to be considered. But I think nearly every horse in the National would have won the point-to-point this lad did recently and yet he shortened in the market. It is highly dubious whether he'll see out this trip. Second favourite as I write despite not having shown solid form for nigh-on two years. Not for me.

A Place Lay - Tidal Bay. 'Mercurial', 'enigmatic', 'a conundrum'. All of these are likely to be used this week to describe Tidal Bay. 'A right dog' is probably that which will resonate with most punters. Clearly has the ability to play a part if he's inclined to, but far more likely to turn his nose up at the first.

Three lays today courtesy of Timeform's US Team......

There are some smart sorts on show in this mile-and-three-quarter listed event......

Timeform's Phil Thompson makes the selections for today's placepot at Exeter......

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Weekend Preview: Champion Hurdle tune-ups for Binocular and Oscar Whisky

Weekend Preview/Review / Timeform / 04 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

Binocular: Has his final race before Cheltenham at Sandown on Saturday

"The Champion Hurdle picture promised to become somewhat clearer after Saturday's racing, with Peddlers Cross on track to clash with either Binocular or Oscar Whisky, but now that Donald McCain's unbeaten hurdler has been ruled out of action this weekend, both Binocular and Oscar Whisky face seemingly simple tasks."

Timeform look over the weekend's action...

The Champion Hurdle picture promised to become somewhat clearer after Saturday's racing, with Peddlers Cross on track to clash with either Binocular or Oscar Whisky, but now that Donald McCain's unbeaten hurdler has been ruled out of action this weekend, both Binocular and Oscar Whisky face seemingly simple tasks.

Binocular will face just three others in the Contenders Hurdle at Sandown, and though he will meet some useful rivals, he has so much in hand on Timeform ratings that it will be a surprise if he comes off the bridle to land what will surely be very short odds indeed.

Fortunately, the Contenders Hurdle is not typical of the card at Sandown, where the rest of the action looks particularly competitive. The highlight is the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase over two miles, which features a number of realistic Arkle contenders. The mare Nadiya de la Vega comes out top on Timeform ratings in her bid to make it three from three over fences in Britain, though she will face stiff competition from the likes of Medermit, Captain Chris and Rock Noir.

The next most valuable event on the card at Sandown is the two-and-three-quarter-mile Heroes Handicap Hurdle, which features a whole host of upwardly mobile hurdlers, among whom the most interesting pair are arguably Nick Williams' Aflie Spinner and the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Mister Hyde.

Over at Ffos Las, the ratings suggest Oscar Whisky has a bit more on than Binocular as he bids to cement his status as a realistic Champion Hurdle contender in the Welsh equivalent, but even then he is unlikely to be extended if running close to the form he showed at Cheltenham last time.

The best of the other six races on the card at Ffos Las is the three-and-a-half-mile handicap chase in which Blazing Bailey looks the one to beat on the back of his win in a valuable event at Cheltenham on New Year's Day.

Saturday's other jumps action in Britain takes place at Wetherby, where the best race is the Grade 2 Towton Novices' Chase over three miles and a furlong. The most exciting runner in that race is Wayward Prince, who is out to make it three from three over fences on what will be his first run since winning a novice chase at Cheltenham's Open Meeting back in November.

There are two further fixtures on Saturday - on the all-weather at Lingfield and over jumps at Naas in Ireland.

As usual, Ireland is also the scene for Sunday's best NH racing, and there are four Grade 1 events set to take place at Leopardstown. The action kicks off with the Spring Juvenile Hurdle for which Paul Nicholls sends over the form pick Indian Daudaie, though there are a host of likely improvers in the line-up, not least the Dermot Weld-trained filly Unaccompanied.

The next Grade 1 is the 18-furlong Deloitte Novice Hurdle, and this year's renewal looks well up to scratch. Oscars Well and Zaidpour are both already Grade 1 winners, and they set an exacting standard, though the likes of Shot From The Hip and Hidden Universe are no forlorn hopes to improve and get in the mix.

The novice chasers get their chance in the 21-furlong Dr P. J. Moriarty Novice Chase, where Mikael d'Haguenet is on something of a recovery mission after disappointing behind Realt Dubh at Leopardstown over Christmas. He still sets the standard judged on the form he was showing prior to falling at the last the time before, though Grade 1 winner Bostons Angel and Dessie Hughes's Magnanimity both look serious contenders too.

The main event at Leopardstown, and the final Grade 1 on the card, is the three-mile Hennessy Gold Cup. The field includes two previous winners of the race in The Listener and Joncol, and they head the ratings along with China Rock. British raider Pride of Dulcote currently head the market, though he does need to improve significantly on anything he has done to date to play a hand.

The day's two meetings in Britain take place at Fontwell and Musselburgh, the latter track hosting one of its better meetings of the NH season, the card there including the Scottish County Hurdle and the Scottish Triumph Hurdle.

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All the betting moves ahead of the evening racing at Wolverhampton...

Timeform look over the weekend's action......

The Irish Hennessy meeting at Leopardstown is the last stepping stone before the Cheltenham Festival for many leading ante-post fancies from across the Irish Sea and the four Grade 1 events on the card all promise to be high-class renewals....

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Cheltenham Festival Betting: Will it be bravo Oscar Whisky in Champion Hurdle?

Ante-post / Simon Baker / 29 January 2011 / Leave a Comment

Oscar Whisky look overpriced in the Champion Hurdle market

"The form Oscar Whisky achieved that day is very close to high-class, and entitles him to be tighter to the three that head him in the market than is actually the case."

Timeform's Simon Baker looks through the main contenders for what is shaping up to be the best Champion Hurdle in many seasons...

Of all the ante-post markets at the Festival, the one for the Champion Hurdle is up there among the most perplexing, with four horses currently trading at single-figure prices and at least five others you could give a serious chance to at bigger odds.

Binocular has reclaimed favouritism at [4.3] after his win in the rearranged Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and justifiably so, as he has the best form of all the contenders. Indeed, when winning the Champion Hurdle last season, he recorded the best Timeform rating by a winner of the race since Rooster Booster, and before him Istabraq. Binocular will reportedly run in the Contenders Hurdle at Sandown and it's difficult to see him being usurped as favourite between now and the Festival.

Hurricane Fly ([6.0]) was briefly favourite for the race having won both his starts in Ireland this season, on each occasion beating Solwhit in typical strong-travelling fashion. Hurricane Fly is now seven from eight over timber in Ireland, and is firmly established as the best hurdler on those shores. The pick of his form leaves him with a bit to find with Binocular, but it is by no means out of the question that Hurricane Fly is capable of even better, given that he hasn't yet had the opportunity to take on the best Britain has to offer.

Also undefeated this season is Menorah ([6.4]), who completes the trio of horses who have at one point been ante-post favourite for the Champion. Last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner has confirmed his liking for Cheltenham this term, winning the Greatwood there on his return prior to lowering the colours of Cue Card and Silviniaco Conti in the International Hurdle. The better of those two efforts in terms of form was the win under top weight in the Greatwood, though he was visually more impressive in the International, showing a good turn of foot before the last.

The unbeaten Peddlers Cross ([6.6]) is the other horse currently trading at single-figure odds. Peddlers Cross has improved by the run over timber, winning graded novice events at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals last season, and making a seamless transition to open company when beating Starluck and a below-form Binocular in the Fighting Fifth at Newbury on his reappearance. The bare form of the Fighting Fifth is short of what is required to win a Champion (10 lb below what Binocular achieved last year, for instance), but Peddlers Cross is clearly open to further improvement. Peddlers Cross runs in the Haydock Champion Hurdle Trial on Saturday, and that is likely to prove a simple task for him given the level of opposition there.

After that quartet there is a gap in the market to Oscar Whisky ([21.0]), who laid down his claims for the Champion when hacking up in a two-and-a-half-mile minor event at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. The form Oscar Whisky achieved that day is very close to high-class, and entitles him to be tighter to the three that head him in the market than is actually the case. He next runs in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las, and a similar performance there could well result in him shortening up again.

Another representative of last year's Supreme form, Dunguib, is next in at [22.0]. Dunguib was the banker of the Festival for many last year, and ran a respectable race in the end for all he failed to land the odds. He hasn't been seen since finishing fourth to Hurricane Fly in a Grade 1 at Punchestown in April, and misses an intended assignment in the Irish Champion Hurdle due to a poor blood test. Dunguib obviously has plenty of ability, as he showed in his bumper campaign and when winning novice hurdles on the bridle in Ireland last term, but he offers pretty poor value at current prices given that his form is about 20 lb short of what is required.

Mille Chief ([26.0]) looks a much better bet than Dunguib at the prices given that he achieved a very smart level of form when winning a valuable Sandown handicap hurdle under top weight at the beginning of the month. Alan King has long held Mille Chief in high regard, and he was prominent in the market for last season's Triumph, only to miss the race with a setback. He will now run in a Champion Hurdle trial, and further improvement will see him right in the mix with the principals on form.

Last year's runner-up Khyber Kim ([40.0]) has taken a major walk in the market after his below-form reappearance, when only fourth to Binocular in the Christmas Hurdle. The likelihood is that Kempton's two-mile track does not present Khyber Kim with a sufficient test of stamina, and he should do better at Cheltenham, though this year's renewal looks stronger than the one he was second in last year, and it could be that Aintree will afford him a better opportunity for success at the top level this term.

Another who has drifted somewhat is Silviniaco Conti ([36.0]), and his price looks on the generous side mindful of his form this year. Indeed, he ran to a Timeform rating of 163 when winning the Ascot Hurdle back in November, which puts him behind only Binocular, Hurricane Fly and Menorah in terms of achievement on the racecourse. Silviniaco Conti finished third, behind Menorah and Cue Card, in the International Hurdle when last seen, though there are several mitigating factors to his performance. Firstly, Silviniaco Conti was conceding 4 lb to the pair that beat him, while he was not ideally suited by the steady pace behind the ignored pacemaker that day. The drift out to [38.0] certainly looks an overreaction judged on form.

The market suggests that the Supreme is by far the more likely Festival target for Cue Card ([50.0]), though that price would look very big if Colin Tizzard did opt to go down the Champion route, as Cue Card is almost certainly capable of better - he'd likely get closer to Menorah than he did in the International granted a stronger pace. Having said that, the Supreme looks at his mercy, and it would be fully understandable if connections head there instead.

The two-mile hurdling division has perhaps lacked a bit of quality in recent seasons, but this year's renewal is shaping up to buck that trend, and it looks incredibly competitive. Binocular rates as the likeliest winner, but it's not particularly likely that either him or the trio that also trade at single-figure odds behind him (Hurricane Fly, Menorah, Peddlers Cross) are going to shorten appreciably between now and the Festival. Given that there isn't obviously much value left in any of their prices, the best approach might well be to side with a couple of up-and-comers in Oscar Whisky and Mille Chief, both of whom have the form to figure, and will get the opportunity to emphasise their credentials between now and the Festival, affording the opportunity to lock in a profit.

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Back Oscar Whisky @ [22.0] and Mille Chief @ [26.0] in the Champion Hurdle

Timeform's Simon Baker looks through the main contenders for what is shaping up to be the best Champion Hurdle in many seasons......

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