Cheltenham Saturday review: Ozzie the Oscar digs deep to score

Oscar performance by Johnson

Richard Johnson gave Ozzie The Oscar a never-say-die ride to land the Cheltenham Club Handicap Chase.

The 11/4 shot set out to make all the running and despite some scrappy jumps along the way, still just about held sway after the second-last.

After an early fall for Top Gamble, the only danger to Ozzie The Oscar was market leader Bun Doran and Paddy Brennan's mount edged ahead at the last, only for the champion jockey to galvanise Philip Hobbs' seven-year-old on the run in to win going away by three and a half lengths.

Johnson said on Racing UK: "It was a good performance under the weight today and was another career best. Things will get harder but he's still a young horse and has time on his side.

"He wouldn't want the ground too soft in the future."

Hobbs said: "He ran very well at Ascot last time and in the Haldon Gold Cup. Last time they probably went a bit too quick.

"He was very good today. He made that mistake at the top of the hill and I think most horses would have stopped. He is a star really.

"There is a decent two-mile handicap at Doncaster at the end of January. Whether we do that or give him a break, we will see."

Improving Rockpoint bags Bartlett

Rockpoint took the step back into novice company in his stride to win the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, providing trainer Colin Tizzard with another victory in the race.

Tizzard's Kilbricken Storm won the race 12 months ago before going on to land the Grade One at the Festival in March and connections will be dreaming of a similar route after the five-year-old Rockpoint - a second-season novice - stayed on strongly to see of Lisnagar Oscar by two and three-quarter lengths.

Tizzard said: "It's amazing really. All last season we went two and a half miles and it was just a question of whether he was going through with it.

"John Snook (owner) rang me up before the entries closed saying are you entering him for this race today. We saw something two weeks ago in a handicap on his first start over three miles. He looked more at ease with himself. Today he never missed a beat.

"He stayed on up the run in like a proper horse. You never know where they will stop once they start improving. We thought when we won with Kilbricken Storm that was as good as we were going to get, then he went on.

"No doubt we will come back here for the Albert Bartlett in March. He will definitely have another one or two more runs as you can see he is not out on his legs today."

Lane leads them home

Drovers Lane successfully conceded weight all round under Sean Bowen in the Ryman Novices' Chase.

Rebecca Curtis' six-year-old - a point-to-point winner in his youth - has taken his hurdles form to a new level since switching to fences this season and followed up an easy Market Rasen win last month with an impressive display of chasing.

He took it up on the far side of the course and always had the upper hand over Jenkins, who tried to go with him under Nico De Boinville.

Le Breuil, who had led early, eventually battled back to take second from a weakening Jenkins but Drovers Lane was away and gone and was just kept up to his work on the run-in to score by a length and a half.

Sky Bet reacted by making him 25/1 for the JLT Novices' Chase at the Festival in March.

Curtis said of the 3/1 winner: "We always thought he was a good horse. Until you come here and take on the better ones, you never know what you've got. He proved it today that he is very nice.

"Sean (Bowen) said he will get further, but he said they went a good gallop there.

"I think he will probably have a little break now and we will definitely be thinking of something at the Festival for him.

"We tried to be careful before as we thought the 0-145 novice here would be ideal, but he is going to go up for that. We will have a look at the Graded races.

"I think we will look at both the two-and-a-half and three-mile ones. Neither will be weak, but we will go for the easier one."

Nelson delivers knock-out blow

Nelson River came with a late surge to maintain his unbeaten record over obstacles in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle.

Sent off at 6/1 following a winning debut over timber at Bangor-On-Dee, Tony Carroll's son of Mount Nelson was seemingly facing an uphill task when they turned for home, with Fret D'Estruval, Fanfan Du Seuil and front-runner Katpoli all in front of him and seemingly travelling best.

Katpoli held the advantage all the way down to the last after which Fanfan Du Seuil battled past, but Nelson River found another gear close home and flew home in the hands of Harry Bannister to score by a length.

Sky Bet make Nelson River 40/1 for the Grade One Triumph Hurdle back at Cheltenham in March.

Carroll said: "It was not a surprise as he is a nice horse. He stays well and he has taken to jumping. He is a young horse and really he has had not much racing.

"I think the horse is still learning. He is a horse that is moving forward and has a bright future.

"Of course they would like to come back for the Festival. Today was a day to see where we were. We've always liked him. He is a lovely horse but they've still got to do it on the track.

"It was tough out there for juveniles and he has done it really well."

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