Ozzie The Oscar

15th-Dec-2018

It is not surprising that Bun Doran is favourite here.  He is a fashionable horse, and he was impressive in winning at Cheltenham’s November meeting last time.  However, that was not a strong race, he has been raised by 10lb for that win, and he is short.  I am happy to be against him at the price.

I think that Ozzie The Oscar should be closer to him in the betting than he is, and I am backing him.  Philip Hobbs’ horse could only finish fifth in the two-mile handicap chase that Caid Du Lin won at Ascot last time, but he ran a lot better than that.   He chased the very fast pace that Speredek set and he lasted all the way to the second last fence.  His performance can be marked up significantly, given that he chased such a fast pace.

Third behind Silver Streak in the Welsh Champion Hurdle on his debut this season, he stepped up on that next time to finish a really good second to God’s Own in the Haldon Gold Cup off a mark of 151, beaten just a half a length.  And God’s Own came out next time and finished a good second to the classy Charbel in the Peterborough Chase.

He has to give weight away to all his rivals today, but he is down by 1lb to a mark of 153 and, just a seven-year-old who has raced just seven times over fences, he still has the potential to go higher.  Also, Richard Johnson is back on board, and there is a chance that he will have it to himself up front.

Hell’s Kitchen would be a danger to all if he could get into a nice racing rhythm from early but, while he is interesting dropping back down to two miles, Cheltenham may not be his track.

OZZIE THE OSCAR WON (ADV 7/2 [R4], SP 11/4)

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