Oscar stages fine comeback

THE enigmatic Finian’s Oscar returned to his very best and received the plaudits after taking the Big Buck’s Celebration Novices’ Chase in the hands of a persistent Robbie Power.

Victory looked far from certain as he clouted numerous fences. But after jumping the last, when he had three rivals still to catch, he sprouted wings to nail Rene’s Girl in the dying strides.

Calino D’Airy arrived late to take third place with the long-time leader Cyrname, who was sent off the 2-1 favourite, fading to finish fourth.

Winning trainer Colin Tizzard admitted that he was worried that he had run the gelding in the wrong race.

“During the race I was thinking what Robbie said at Cheltenham, that the horse needed three miles,” said Tizzard, who opted for yesterday’s two-and-half-mile contest. “He clobbered one down the back, but was always just in touch. He raced lazily, but he’s a strong horse.

“Like a lot of our horses he wasn’t right at Christmas, but horses aren’t always at the very top all the time. People expect them to turn up and win, but it’s not like that.

“If they turn up here and win we are quite happy. Good horses don’t win every time. Cheltenham form is always the best of the season and he didn’t run badly there.

“It didn’t look very promising for a while today, but he was still close enough. He’s bang on right now. He will now probably go to Punchestown.”