'He's a master in these races' - Run For Oscar and Egan strike for canny Byrnes

Saturday: Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap, Newmarket

David Egan has gone full circle this year after his recent spilt with Prince Faisal, and a month on from his first Classic success in the St Leger, he registered another landmark when steering Run For Oscar to land a substantial gamble in the Club Godolphin Cesarewitch.

The dual-purpose performer was backed into 4-1 second favourite from double-figure odds earlier in the week and he scored with authority for master Irish trainer Charles Byrnes.

The winner was one of five Irish runners in the 21-strong field, down on previous years, which was probably linked to the recent Irish equivalent having its prize-money boosted to €600,000 from €80,000 a year ago.

David Egan has time to look around for any dangers on the dominant Run For OscarCredit: Edward Whitaker

Byrnes said: "I had him entered in the Irish Cesarewitch, but took him out early as I thought this track would suit him better. I know it was more money at the Curragh, but you need so much more of luck in running around there. This is a nice pot and it's nice to have won it."

Not sighted early off a decent pace set by Moliwood, Run For Oscar looked to be going best of all three furlongs out, with Egan sat motionless, before putting the race to bed entering the Dip, as the Hughie Morrison-trained duo Vino Victrix and Not So Sleepy filled the three.

Egan said: "It was a smooth race. He saved so much energy going to the start as he was so relaxed when I took him down. It could not have panned out any better.

"The instructions were to take my time and creep away. They got going too soon up front so the race rather fell apart. I didn't want to get there too soon so I took a pull at the three-furlong pole which I wasn't expecting to do. When I asked him, he put the race to bed in a matter of strides.

"I didn't know much about the horse before other than I was in the race he won at Haydock last time, but I knew Mr Byrnes is a master in these types of races."

Byrnes said: "This race had been in our minds from the start of the season and it came off. I've had tremendous success for these owners in the past and they deserve all the luck.

"It's nice for us smaller trainers to get our hands on a nice horse like him. He has done it easy enough and could go back over hurdles after this."

The plan paid off for Charles Byrnes and David Egan in the CesarewitchCredit: Edward Whitaker

Morrison, whose pair ran so well in second and third, said: "It was a great effort from both of them. It feels like we've won as they've just bumped into a well-handicapped horse.

"Vino Victrix is only four and he's a lovely progressive horse. To be able to do that as a four-year-old is impressive and he should have a good future.

"Not So Sleepy is the story of the race for me and he makes you so proud with how he runs. We'll take him back jumping over the winter."

Run For Oscar was extending the winning sequence of hurdlers in this race to five following Buzz's success for Nicky Henderson last year and winners for Willie Mullins between 2018-2020.

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