Finian's Oscar opens chasing account Dual Grade One-winning hurdler Finian's Oscar ran out a wide-margin winner on his chasing debut in the totequadpot Novices' Chase at Chepstow. Colin Tizzard's Mersey Novices' Hurdle hero was a 1-3 chance to land this Listed test, but took some time to warm to his task and had plenty of ground to make up at the end of the back straight, where Alcala and Aintree My Dream cut out a strong pace. Alcala slipped up on the bend, leaving Aintree My Dream in front, but Finian's Oscar easily made up the ground on the home turn under Bryan Cooper and bounded readily clear of Tintern Theatre. Court Minstrel won the totepool Silver Trophy for a second time. Evan Williams' 10-year-old landed the Grade Three handicap hurdle two years ago but had failed to hit the target in 14 subsequent starts. But that unwanted statistic was stricken from the record books as the 14-1 chance narrowly outgunned Sam Spinner, who had made a brave fist of things from the front, in the hands of Mitchell Bastyan. Wholestone, the 4-1 favourite, finished third.
