The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Oscar tipped to rock his rivals
Jefferson’s charge should prove good enough to defy top weight burden
OSCAR ROCK can dish out weight and a beating when he returns to the track at Market Rasen.
The eight-year-old has always been fondly admired by trainer Malcolm Jefferson, but things did not quite go to plan after he won a Listed handicap chase at this track last September.
That said, he was pitched into some pretty exalted company on three subsequent outings so the bare form figures are obviously a bit misleading.
He did, however, not run too badly at all in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in April, yet still looks on a high enough mark over fences.
To that end, the return to hurdling in Lincolnshire should strengthen his hand no end upon his reappearance, even though he must shoulder top weight in the Swinton Insurance Lord Tennyson Handicap Hurdle.
Oscar Rock is good enough to overcome that stumbling block, with the fact his trainer is in the midst of a genuine purple patch another positive.
HIGHLAND ACCLAIM can gain handsome dividends when he steps back up to six furlongs at Newcastle.
The David O’Meara-trained fiveyear-old has found life a little tough since he won by a neck at Epsom in the summer, with the handicapper hardly making life a bed of roses for him.
He is still a very capable operator and can be trusted to run purposefully in the Betway Sprint Handicap.
Highland Acclaim last reported for duty on November 1, when he was sent off 7-2 joint-favourite in a strong fivefurlong handicap at Wolverhampton.
But he perhaps lacked the zip to go with the protagonists and had to make do with third spot behind Upstaging.
O’Meara has now made the hardly dramatic decision to step back up to six furlongs, a distance at which he has done all of his winning. SELECTIONS
MARKET RASEN: 1.00 Mr Monochrome, 1.30 Zara Hope, 2.05 OSCAR ROCK (NAP), 2.35 Cusheen Bridge, 3.10 Foundation Man, 3.45 Western Ryder.
NEWCASTLE: 12.20 Holmeswood, 12.50 Sutter County, 1.25 Highland Acclaim, 1.55 Sunglider, 2.25 Miss Tree, 3.00 Hard Toffee, 3.35 Bay Mirage, 4.10 Cliff.
DOUBLE: Oscar Rock and Highland Acclaim