Oscar to take Long Distance jackpot

Lisnagar Oscar finished with a flourish over a trip shy of his best first time out this season and can return to winning ways tomorrow in the Ladbrokes Long Distance Hurdle.

A surprise winner of the Stayers’ Hurdle in 2020, he has not got his head in front since that Festival success but there have been flashes that prove it was not a total fluke. He was beaten just threequarters of a length in the Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock last February when giving 6lb to the winner and was still travelling perfectly well when falling in defence of his title at Cheltenham in March.

That was a heavy fall so it was a surprise to see him back out at Aintree, but less so to see him make little impact behind Thyme Hill.

It was much more like it at Aintree on his seasonal bow, though. While he was understandably caught a little flatfooted between the third and second last when speedier horses quickened up, Lisnagar Oscar stayed on strongly into third behind the impressive Brewin’upastorm.

Trainer Rebecca Curtis does not have the same strength in depth as the days of At Fishers Cross, Teaforthree, O’Faolains Boy and Irish Cavalier but while her numbers are down, she is still operating at a decent strikerate. All those hard battles Paisley Park has had down the years now seem to have taken their toll so the two mares, Indefatigable and Mrs Milner, could be the big dangers.

Millers Bank can keep the dream alive a little longer for Alex Hales in the Grade Two Ladbrokes Committed To Safer Gambling Novices’ Chase.

Only four go to post but they are all very youngsters.

Tom Lacey’s Tea Clipper looked a natural when making a winning chase debut in Listed company at Chepstow, Paul Nicholls’ Pic D’Orhy is only six but has plenty of experience to call upon and Gary Moore’s Nassalam is dangerous getting the four-year-old allowance. But Millers Bank could be a real headline horse with Hales on the strength of his last two runs.

He finished third behind Abacadabras at 80-1 in the Aintree Hurdle, beaten a little over three lengths, finishing just behind Buzz but in front of Buveur D’Air and Brewin’upastorm.

Then on his chasing debut he was travelling better than Cadzand when that rival sadly suffered a fatal fall.

Millers Bank is on a steep upward curve, has improved 20lb since this time last year and has the size and scope to go to the top over fences.

This meeting is traditionally when Nicky Henderson takes the wraps off his big guns and Jonbon falls into that category. The horse has already had plenty written about him due to the fact he is a brother to Douvan and his huge purchase price of £570,000.