Oscar takes advantage of chase rating

Fiery Oscar has proved a grand servant to connections and recorded an eighth career victory for the father and son team of Rodger and Colman Sweeney in the Jimmy Neville Memorial Handicap Chase at Thurles.

The nine-year-old has done most of his winning over hurdles but has risen considerably in the ratings as a result, and now has a hurdle mark fully two stone higher than his chase rating.

A switch back here to fences proved a wise one as the 100/30 chance took it up early in the straight, and stayed on well under pressure on the run-in to beat Leap Dearg by a length and a half. Shesonlyahorse cut out much of the running and eventually finished another three quarters of a length back in third.

Rodger Sweeney said, “Keeping him around or below Cashel seems to be the way with this fellow. He’s a hardy little buck and this time last year he was only rated 89 but he keeps pulling out some more.

“I thought the ground would catch him but he’s a plucky little fellow. He’ll probably stay over fences as he’s rated far too high over hurdles. He’s nowhere near a mid-130’s horse.”

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes