Lisnagar Oscar Produces Career Best To Land Stayers Hurdle

Lisnagar Oscar (7g Oscar – Asta Belle, by Astarabad) provided connections with a day to remember when landing the Grade 1 Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Rebecca Curtis-trained bay boasted some promising form over course and distance, with two Grade 2 placings to his name. Adam Wedge rode the bay in midfield, inching forward from after halfway and led as they turned for home. Pushed out as several horses produced challenges, he stayed on well to win by two lengths.

Adam Wedge, who has enjoyed a terrific season, later said, “It's unbelievable, just fantastic. He fought like a little lion.”

Lisnagar Oscar began his career between the flags with breeder Denis Fitzgerald of Lisnagar Stud, who trained him to win his point-to-point debut by eight lengths at Liscaroll. Subsequently sold to Rebecca Curtis for £105,000, he is owned by the Racing For Fun partnership.

He becomes the latest Grade 1 winner by Oscar, who stood at Grange Stud. His dam, Asta Belle, has a three-year-old filly by Leading Light, as well as a yearling and two-year-old geldings by Soldier Of Fortune.