Finian's Oscar hints at Arkle sparkle after poignant win at Cheltenham
Ben Linfoot was at Cheltenham to reflect on Finian's Oscar's poignant success, while Ian Williams was in buoyant mood as he bids to emulate Martin Pipe this weekend.
There’s no finer place to lose money than Cheltenham Racecourse on a day as beautiful as today, the clear blue sky, rolling hills and low autumn sun framing the venue at its very best.
It would be a slight exaggeration to say the action on the track matched the setting, as the opening day of the newly-named November Meeting was pretty low-key relative to the heart-thumping sport we’re used to in this arena.
But there was a star on show. Finian’s Oscar, hot favourite for the four-runner Steel Plate And Sections Novices’ Chase, bidding to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Cheltenham heroes such as Denman and Imperial Commander who won this race when they were learning their trade.
Racing in the green, yellow and red-capped colours of the late Alan Potts, his owner passing suddenly earlier in the week, there was a poignancy surrounding his triumph to match the talent and tenacity that he ultimately had to show.
They went slow, he cruised into contention, was headed by Movewiththetimes between the final two fences, but then he showed class and resolution to knuckle down, display a change of gear and get the job done pretty cosily in the end.
With William Henry being pulled up his task was made easier, but he still had to give 8lb to two good horses and I was more taken by the speed he showed than those bookmakers that left him up at 12/1 for the Racing Post Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
At this early stage, it’s the Arkle that looks a weaker race than the JLT and it was no surprise to hear trainer Colin Tizzard thinking along those lines in the post-race debrief.
Tizzard said: “Giving 8lb today to some good horses, this time last year he was winning a point-to-point and we saw something today we hadn’t really seen before, he could be a two-miler.
“It has to be considered, a fast-run two miles could just be right up his street.
“It was a good jump at the last and in the end he won it quite cosily. There’s always something in the locker, nothing fazes him, he’s a beautiful creature. You have to remember he’s only five.
“This was a slow-run two-and-a-half mile race, so, a fast run Arkle, he could be an Arkle horse.”
Cheltenham paid tribute to Alan and Ann Potts, who also died earlier in the year, on the big screen, a warm applause from the crowd as the high-profile owners were remembered just as Finian’s Oscar made his way down to the start.
“It came as a shock to everybody when Alan passed away on Sunday, that’s for sure,” said Tizzard.
“No-one quite knows what will happen in the future. Cheltenham have done a wonderful job and it’s a magical moment for all concerned.
“There’s a fair bit of Alan Potts in this horse, actually. When push comes to shove he keeps on finding more and this is as nice a horse as we’ve had for a while I think.”
There’s certainly something about Finian’s. That was a really good performance giving weight away in style in ground that was probably harder work than it looked.
Whatever happens in terms of his ownership, this son of Oscar looks to have the raw skills to light up the sport in the coming months and, hopefully, years ahead.
Williams eyes double double
Few trainers are as hot right now as Ian Williams, who highlighted his dual-purpose skills in emphatic fashion last weekend thanks to an Elite Hurdle-November Handicap double at Wincanton and Doncaster.
London Prize, who landed the Elite Hurdle in fine style in first-time cheekpieces, is back for more in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday, while Ballyalton bids to land a long-term plan by winning the meeting’s feature, the BetVictor Gold Cup, on Saturday.
Williams was in buoyant mood after Kapstadt’s second place in the two-mile handicap and gives both of his horses big chances in the weekend’s valuable handicaps.
He said: “Ballyalton likes better ground but this is National Hunt ground and he should cope with it better than Kapstadt has done today. I’ve got very few concerns about Ballyalton apart from whether he’s good enough or not.
“A lot of the other boxes are ticked, I think he’s come out of his first race really well, he’s won around here before and I’m very happy with him as my ticket in the race - I wouldn’t want another one.
“He injured a tendon, which you know is 12 months before you start, but he’s come back fantastic and touch wood all is well.
“When he picked up his injury 18 months ago we sat down with his owner John Westwood and decided this was the race we’d like to target. Fortunately we’ve made it here Saturday.”
As for London Prize, the big question is the short turnaround after Wincanton.
Williams is adamant that won’t be a problem.
“The ground as it is should probably suit him and the horse has given me lots of signs this week that he wasn’t bottomed at Wincanton,” he said.
“He basically, look, if he could ask to run on Sunday he would’ve done.
“He’s in rude form, we’re very happy with him but it is just eight days after Wincanton, it’s a tough ask, but I wouldn’t ask him if I didn’t think he was up to it.”
The BetVictor Gold Cup-Greatwood double would be some achievement, usurping even last Saturday’s for Williams. It has been done before, though, in 2001, when Westender and Shooting Light, both ridden by AP McCoy, landed what is still, at the time of writing, a unique achievement for a certain Martin Pipe.
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