Oscar Time

Ive been watching all his races this morning. He is a beautiful jumper and really looks like better ground will be just the thing he needs. I can see why there is a comparison with Rough Quest. This is my main bet after realising he ticks all the boxes.

Thank you for passing on the "Good News"!

On form I think he has at least a similar chance to that of the current favourite.

Not sure about the price tumbling though, I think there are other factors that could take over the market moves on the day. The "Ruby" factor, the "McCoy" factor, the "McCain" factor or even the "Sir Alex" factor?

I would say some big players will pile into this one. He has a 4lb pull for 5L, when reportedly not race fit. lb for lb over another 12 furlongs he should beat The Midnight Club. He is a superior jumper and will appreciate the good ground. Critics who say he showed a lack of stamina last time out are wrong as he has already proved his stamina in the Irish National on heavy ground.

The price will tumble as the big players always wait to see if the horse arrives on the course before piling in.

lets hope he jumps like he did last time out. awesome jumping.
i am on at 25/1. hoping for a big run obviously.

I don't think he proved his stamina in the Irish National, I would argue that it was his lack of stamina that cost him the race.

That was on heavy ground Beryl, you cant say he didnt stay. He was switched at the last fence and kept on. He finishes his races out on good ground better, and i think he would have won the Irish if it was good ground.

Agee siralex he is a brilliat jumper.

Agree

Angel Gabriel, I acknowledge the race was run on heavy ground, but it was also run at a very sedate pace. He came with a winning run two out but his stamina gave out at the last.

Maybe it was the heavy ground and Bluesea Cracker coped better with it.

I agree he is a lovely jumper and travels very well.

Best of luck.

Thanks Beryl

Yes i think the ground makes all the difference as , plus he was giving Bluesea Cracker 9lb.

Out of interest what is your fancy for the race?

Cheers.

I've got three running for me;

Bluesea Cracker is my main fancy. Was impressed with her Irish National win. I thought she won that with plenty in hand.

I was at Cheltenham last November when she ran 4th to Midnight Chase. She travelled and jumped really well that day and when she nodded on landing 3 out Andrew McNamara let her come home in her own time. I believe that was one of the best staying handicap chases run this season.

She was due to run in the Welsh National but got a minor injury a few days before and was a non runner.

Then in her comeback run in the Bobbyjo she jumped and travelled fairly well until 3 out when she couldn't go with the leaders and ended up being beaten by 32 lengths. I must admit I was very disappointed with that performance. However, I subsequently read that she scoped dirty afterwards and was put on a course of antibiotics. So in hindsight that wasn't too bad a run at all.

I'm not too worried about the ground as she won a 48k graded race a couple of years ago on yielding ground by 16 lengths (Oscar Time a faller that day) and the ground at Cheltenham in November was no worse than Good to Soft.

Chief Dan George - only fell once in his career over fences, last time as it happens. Real battler who stays very well and has already won at Aintree. Will enjoy the spring ground.

His Wm Hill Chase win last year was very good and proved how tough he is.

Character Building - probably wasn't given the best of rides last year when he also suffered from a poor prep.

He's a former Cheltenham Festival winner who jumps well, has a touch of class and has plenty of stamina. Quirky to same the least, Nina will have a much better idea how to ride him this year.

Good luck with those Beryl.

Chief Dan George was messed about in his last race, so we should put a line through that one. I like him.

Also im sure Oscar Time had the measure of Bluesea Cracker at Limerick when he tipped up at the last. He actuallytried to jump the fence too quick, as he was quickening up. The Grand National different trip so who knows what the outcome will be on saturday. I do know the money will come for Oscar, he has been punted a few times before and he has big followers.

I can certainly see him being a single-figure price, a lot will depend on whether the press make a big thing of the SWC story in the morning. It wouldn't surprise me if Pricewse went in again either.

Personally, I normally like to go into the race with several interests, but I'm not really bothered about backing anything other than Oscar Time this year. The jockey is not a worry for me, and I just keep thinking back to the Leopardstown handicap that the horse won two Christmasses ago.

As for the others at the top end of the market, I can see the drift on The Midight Club continuing, and feel sure that Don't Push It will drift as well. WAF could be backed because of the Ferguson connection, but I really can't have him in this kind of race (adamant he should have been in the Bowl yesterday). The only other one that I can see being backed is Backstage.

All in all, there are worse bets for National favourite than the 6/1 on offer - but I'm happy to concentrate on him simply winning the race.

Yes Elsie he looks ideal. The trip is obviously something we dont know about but i strongly feel he needs good ground. Even over 3 miles he does not finish his races off, when the ground is soft/heavy, yet once good or yielding is mentioned Oscar Time really stays on much better.

Ive been watching this horse ever since a NHF at Navan many years ago.

I like backing to lay so he has been my favourite horse over the last few years.

No matter the trip, there are many time you could say that "he didnt stay" as he is just very one-paced.

The uncertainty over the going is what puts me off most.  Not seen the times for today yet but they've finished fairly tired and the Clerk has promised to water tonight despite the Good to Soft current state of the ground.  How much will he water?  How slow/fast is the ground? What effect will watering on raced on ground have?

The Mildmay times are hard to use as a judge of how fast the ground is drying as the rails have been moved after the opening day so times should be markedly faster than yesterday anyway

Been backing him for a year 230's down

The ground looks beautiful, im not at all worried about the ground for this horse..

Rhinestone 230!

I hope your heart holds out as Oscar YTime is still bobbing about with 2 to go!

managed to get a bit of 50s on Calgary

will probably green out if he's leading at the last. That elbow takes an eternity to negotiate.

I'm on this one. Mainly as I have a German Shepard called Oscar.  It's a highly scientific strategy....  So I'm glad to hear he's actually a serious contender!

One newb question (usually stick to boxing/football) ...  ''SP PLACED'' ...  And not Matched status.  Now, the odds are changing all the time on the currently 'suspended' market for the national (why is it suspended?) ... will the odds that were there when I placed MY bets be what I get if the horse wins?  Thanks to anyone who answers.

Hopefully it'll hold out Angel were all in the pub for it, so will probs have a shot or 2 at the off [;)]

Got huge free bets on Oscar and Midnight who I've backed for the last year. Love picking them out in the National and getting huge value. Although it's a bit of a lottery sometimes

Very, very unlucky Angel.

I was clearly wrong and you were certainly right.

I hope you had a bit on the place.

Jockey rode a wonderful race.

Thought he had it coming to the last and after the last.

Ran a great race , just beat by a horse  who had a date with destiny ......

Very well put apindy. I will get over it in a day or so.

will take me weeks to get over it

You must have been bouncing about Rhinestone when Oscar was coming to the last and a great leap at the last. The front on camera angle made it look like he had joined Ballabriggs and was about to pass him, not sure if that was the case but i was thinking about what car i was going to buy.....

Yes Beryl but again he just flattened out after a super jump at the last. It almost seems as though he knows there are no more fences to jump and starts to fade, but after such a hard race i can forgive him. He hit 2 out quite hard which didnt help but we got a great run for our money. Sam rode a beautiful race on him.

Sam Whaley-Cohen is a superb jockey, very rarely makes mistakes,
as someone said MANY years ago, the one who makes least mistakes is the winner.
Sam make one tiny mistake and that was 2 out, where he thought he could get up Ballabriggs inside at that fence, he had no room and had to take a slight pull which made the difference between winning and finishing second, he is still an EXCELLENT jockey.

I actually cant remember that move on the inside Bazzar, my eyes where popping out of my head. I remember the mistake and i thought that may have finished him off, but the horse kept going. I cant bring myself to watch it again just yet.