Oscar-winning display once again for Tizzard and Power

Once-a-year racegoers making their annual pilgrimage will have been wondering what all the fuss was about. This time last year Finian's Oscar won the Grade 1 novice hurdle at a memorable Grand National meeting for his trainer and jockey.

That race is a traditionally rich source of future chasing talent, so it should be no surprise to see him returning 12 months later to land the Grade 1 Big Buck's Celebration Manifesto Novices' Chase, as Colin Tizzard and Robbie Power picked up where they left off at Aintree.

Finian's Oscar (farside): making a mistake down the backCredit: Mark Cranham

Except that the intervening period cannot exactly be regarded as an unmitigated success story for the six-year-old, whose progress over fences was hindered by jumping issues.

A poor effort when switched back to hurdles at Cheltenham in January led to his having his wind operated on, following which he could still manage no better than a 15½-length fifth in the JLT Novices' Chase when returning there for the festival.

But Tizzard stressed: "He's on a learning curve. Good horses don't necessarily have to be brilliant every time. He was quite good at Cheltenham and Cheltenham form is always the best form of the season. He was better today.

"The horses weren't in great form at Christmas and he probably felt that a bit and he's bang right now. Horses aren't always at their best every time – as long as they turn up here and win we're quite happy."

Not that he was that happy through much of the contest, particularly as Finian's Oscar dropped to rear after a mistake five out.

But the way he fought back to get into contention from two out and forced his way in front in the final 75 yards delighted the trainer, who added: "The whole race I had ringing in my ears what Robbie said at Cheltenham: 'three miles next time'.

"He travelled really well and jumped well until they started racing and he hit one or two. It didn't look very promising for a while but he was just close enough the whole time. He raced a bit lazily but he's a strong stayer and he'll make a Hennessy horse, won't he?"

But there could be more to go for before the race now renamed the Ladbrokes Trophy, as Tizzard said: "I'm thinking of Punchestown – it's a good job Joe remembered to enter him! I don't think we're finished yet this year, he hasn't raced that much."

Rene's Girl was the mare that Finian's Oscar caught late on and trainer Dan Skelton said: "She's just got nabbed but the winner is a very good horse. Jumping two out I thought we'd won. It was a great run by the mare but we weren't quite good enough."

Result, replay and analysis

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