Harrington happy with Oscars progression Jessica Harrington is confident Oscars Well can make his presence felt in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival following his fine run in defeat at Leopardstown on Sunday. The five-year-old is unlucky not to be a Festival winner already, having fluffed his lines at the final flight in last season's Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle. Although he has yet to find the target this season, his latest run behind Hurricane Fly in the Irish Champion Hurdle was easily his best to date. Harrington believes Oscars Well can be an even bigger force on the sounder surface he is likely to encounter in March. "I was very happy with his run and he is improving with every run," said the County Kildare handler. "If you look at his form from last season he did exactly the same. He got beaten first time out and then won his maiden and what was probably a weak Grade One at Navan. "It wasn't until early February that he really came to himself and it seems to be the same this time around, as he is certainly getting better. "He didn't like the ground either on Sunday, so it was a very good run to finish second to an incredible horse. "We said early in the season that we wouldn't be able to beat Hurricane Fly, but I think going to Cheltenham on better ground, we could be placed. "He ran well at Cheltenham last year, so we know he likes the place. "I said to the owners after the race on Sunday that if we can go to Cheltenham and get into that winner's enclosure again, it will be great."
