Oscars Brother runs in a Grade 2 at Navan on Sunday when Connor King runs him in the Ten Up Novice Chase. An assignment the trainer has framed as a straight ‘fact-finding mission’ with Cheltenham implications.
“Oscars Brother is in real good form and the plan is to run on Sunday,” King said. The message carries weight because this is not a horse being rushed through his programme. King deliberately sidestepped the Christmas and Dublin Racing Festival heat after an early-season burst. “He had three quick runs earlier in the season. So, I said the best thing to do was give him a breather and let him get over those runs.”
Oscars Brother heads to Navan in form
Oscars Brother arrives at Navan with a Grade 2 win, bought by JP McManus after landing the Florida Pearl Novice Chase at Punchestown in November. That form has hardened since: runner-up Koktail Divin came back to put a Leopardstown beginners’ chase to bed by 21 lengths. A result that hints Oscars Brother did not simply capitalise on the day — he beat a horse with gears and a future.
Sunday’s Ten Up looks set to cut up, with a maximum of six rivals possible. However, it does not read like a soft touch. Gold Dancer, rated 150, stands as the obvious threat on figures. He chased home Romeo Coolio and Final Demand on his last two starts. Navan’s three miles demands a horse that can travel with purpose, measure a fence at pace, and then keep finding.
King has already lodged an entry for the Randox Grand National despite Oscars Brother still being a novice. He made clear the scale of what is on the table if the gelding stays and jumps. “We’ll learn a lot more about him on Sunday. I suppose you could call it a fact-finding mission. If he put up a good show there you’d be entitled to have a think about the Brown Advisory. We’ll see.”
“It’s unbelievable to have a horse like him. When I was making an entry for him in the Grand National the other day, I just thought to myself how mad it was to be even thinking about races like that.”