JOHN Smith’s Grand National runner-up Oscar Time will be campaigned almost exclusively over hurdles for much of the season as he is being aimed at a return to Aintree next April.
The Robert Waley-Cohen-owned 10-year-old made his first start of the season when fourth behind Zaidpour in the Rock of Cashel Hurdle at Thurles on Thursday last week.
Oscar Time was just over two lengths behind winner, the Donald McCain-trained Ballabriggs, in the Aintree marathon in April and is a best-priced 20-1 with Ladbrokes, totesport and Betfred among others to go one better next year.
Owner Waley-Cohen said: “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.
“We want him flying in April, and that’s six months away.
“It was his first outing and Zaidpour is a Grade One hurdle winner.
“We were running over two miles and six furlongs, so wouldn’t expect him to beat that horse.”
