Oscar Elite

Oscar Elite ran out a good winner of the Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot on Saturday. It was a disappointing Reynoldstown on the face of it, only three horses lined up, but Bold Endeavour had a rating of 145 going into the race, he set a decent standard, and Oscar Elite won well. He travelled and jumped well in the main, in second place up on the outside of the favourite. He got in tight to the third last fence, the fence before they turned for home, which wasn’t ideal, but he quickly recovered his equilibrium. He moved up on the outside of Bold Endeavour as they straightened up for home and joined him at the second last fence. He wasn’t great at that obstacle, but he travelled best between the final two fences, he was big and brave at the last, and he kept on powerfully up the run-in to win by over seven lengths.

This was Oscar Elite’s first win over fences. He was a talented staying novice hurdler, he finished second in the Albert Bartlett Hurdle at Cheltenham, and he finished third behind Ahoy Senor and Bravemansgame in the Sefton Hurdle at Aintree. He didn’t win last season, his first season over fences, but he ran a big race again at the Cheltenham Festival in March to finish third in the Ultima off a handicap rating of 138. That race is again reportedly his target this season, and he goes there with a real chance now, a 4lb hike for Saturday’s win taking him up to a mark of just 139. He appears to be a spring horse, his record in February, March and April reads 13233P1, and he goes well at Cheltenham, his record at the Festival reads 23.
Ascot, 18^th February 2023