Oscar sticks to hurdles John Smith's Grand National runner-up Oscar Time is likely to remain over hurdles for the majority of the campaign following a pleasing return to action at Thurles on Thursday. The Robert Waley-Cohen-owned ten-year-old was beaten a little over two lengths in the Aintree marathon in April, and made his first racecourse appearance since when fourth behind Zaidpour in the Rock of Cashel Hurdle. Waley-Cohen feels the testing conditions were against his charge and admits the only day that really counts this season is back at Aintree next spring. "Sam (Waley-Cohen, jockey) said he absolutely hated the ground - it was awful, tacky, the worst type of ground, almost as bad as Chepstow at its worst - but he was happy with him," said the owner. "We want him flying in April, and that's six months away. It was his first outing and Zaidpour is a Grade 1 hurdle winner. "We were running over two miles and six furlongs, so wouldn't expect him to beat that horse."
