Exciting Oscar ready to take next step on learning curve

2.25 Cheltenham

Steel Plate and Sections Novices' Chase | Class 2 | 4yo+ | 2m4½f | ITV4/RUK

There has been plenty of talk in recent days about a lack of opposition for the top horses in novice chases but, while Finian’s Oscar lines up for a second four-runner affair in as many starts, there can be no complaints about him facing soft opposition.

Movewiththetimes and William Henry represent the two British jumping powerhouses of Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson, while even Coo Star Sivola, the outsider of the quartet, has shown his liking for Cheltenham at the last two festivals.

Of all the horses to carry the emerald and yellow silks of the late Alan Potts, Finian’s Oscar is the one in whom the most hopes have been placed, which is saying something for a string that includes Gold Cup winner Sizing John.

Having completed a near-flawless novice hurdle campaign with a short-head defeat to Bacardys at Punchestown, Finian’s Oscar – ante-post favourite for the JLT Novices’ Chase at the festival in March – made a perfectly satisfactory start to his chasing career at Chepstow, coming home 11 lengths clear of Tintern Theatre.

“He has sharpened up for his Chepstow win and is in good nick,” said trainer Colin Tizzard’s son and assistant, Joe.

The conventional wisdom might be that a small field would help Finian’s Oscar at this embryonic stage, allowing him a clear sight of his fences. But Tizzard said: “I wouldn’t have minded a few more in the race because he travels better in among horses. But it’s his first time at Cheltenham and it’s all a learning curve for him.”

Movewiththetimes (hooped) sets off up the Cheltenham hill in pursuit of North Hill Harvey (pink) and Sceau RoyalCredit: John Grossick

Movewiththetimes came within three-quarters of a length of winning the hugely competitive Betfair Hurdle at Newbury as a novice before an infection caused him to miss the rest of the campaign.

The six-year-old shaped well on his debut over fences here last month when fourth to North Hill Harvey after bungling the last.

Nicholls said: “It was a nice first run and, as he didn’t have much experience over hurdles, it will have done him good. He’s in good order.”

William Henry was rated just 1lb below Movewiththetimes over hurdles and was another who did not go through the festival experience in the spring, although in his case it was because connections preferred to give them a miss.

By choosing this hot event for William Henry’s first start over fences, Henderson is clearly keen to find out how good the Dai Walters-owned gelding is.

The trainer said: “He’s schooled very well and Davy Russell came down and sat on him earlier in the week. He was very good over hurdles and the trip and ground are right, but it’s very competitive.”

Coo Star Sivola failed to cut much ice on his debut over fences at Chepstow but his stout French breeding made placed efforts over hurdles in the 2016 Fred Winter and the 2017 Martin Pipe all the more admirable and can only have been a bonus for trainer Nick Williams ahead of the transition to chasing.

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