Oscara Dara lands over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Oscara Dara led home a one-two for trainer Nicky Henderson in the Star Best For Racing Coverage Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.
Money spoke loudly for the eventual winner as he was punted from 5/2 before racing and eventually sent off 11/8 favourite in the two-mile contest. Ted Dolly had hit the front three out but looked a sitting duck turning for home as Barry Geraghty's mount loomed large.
The Oscar gelding was sent into the lead before the final flight and he was always holding too many guns for stable-mate Malt Master
Tony McCoy tried to throw down a challenge at the final flight on his charge but he couldn't peg back the winner, who eventually scored by a comfortable three-and-a-half lengths.
"It seems an awful long way to come to find out which is the better of our two horses," joked Henderson.
"If you switched the ground you might easily switch the result. They are both lovely horses.
"The winner brought nice form from Aintree and came with Darlan a long way up the straight then.
"AP was thrilled with Malt Master. Both horses will go chasing next year and there is plenty to look forward to."
"He was fourth to Darlan at Aintree and if he ran to that kind of form I thought he was a good bit better than these," added Geraghty about the winner.
It was a double on the card for Geraghty following the earlier victory of Lucky William
(GC & TW)
