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Oscar outstays rivals in style

Wise Oscar and Bryan Cooper are clear jumping the lastWise Oscar and Bryan Cooper are clear jumping the last
© Photo Healy Racing

Stamina proved the key for Wise Oscar as he ran out an easy winner of the 2m6f handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse.

The well-backed 6/4 favourite (from 9/4) was pushed along three from home but found top gear in the straight, under Bryan Cooper.

Dessie Hughes' charge took over from front-runner Playing at the second last and soon asserted.

The Oscar gelding could afford to cruise home in the closing stages to post an eight-length win over Miss Xian who kept on for the runner-up spot.

The winner had chased home runaway winner Bog Warrior in a handicap hurdle here last month on his first start since joining Hughes' yard.

“He goes on that very heavy ground – very few do,” said Hughes.

“There might be another one in him. He can run over fences as well as he's won a chase. When horses get to this age they improve for a change of scene – get a new lease of life.

“He was never really on it (bridle) but goes in that heavy ground and just keeps going while the others stopped.”

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.