Oscar winner springs Stayers’ shock, as Min comes good and Apple’s bows out

Plenty to remember on day three of Cheltenham.

Lisnagar Oscar stunned Cheltenham on day three of the Festival when defying 50-1 odds to land the feature race, the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle.

Reigning champion Paisley Park went to post as the 4-6 favourite, but could not mount any sort of challenge as the field rounded the final bend and finished an eventual seventh. The race also marked the retirement of prolific mare Apple’s Jade.

Frodon was also denied a second successive victory as his Ryanair Chase crown went the way of Willie Mullins’ Min, who held off Saint Calvados to prevail by a neck under Paul Townend – to win at the big meeting on his fourth attempt.

The much-loved Faugheen fell just short in his quest to take the Marsh Novices’ Chase, running a gallant race to finish third behind Samcro and Melon, who were separated by just a nose after a titanic finish.

Picture of the day

Quote of the day

Performance of the day

A 50-1 outsider for the Stayers’ Hurdle, Lisnagar Oscar travelled handily throughout the race and began to pass tiring horses as the hill approached. Picking off 4-6 favourite Paisley Park, Ronald Pump and Bacardys ahead of the final flight, the Rebecca Curtis-trained gelding strode into an uncontested lead as the line approached, and eventually triumphed by a comfortable two lengths to cause the biggest upset of the Festival so far.

Ride of the day

Despite losing his lead after an awkward jump at the second-last flight in the Ryanair Chase, Davy Russell was still able to coax Samcro back to the front of the field and the pair then battled all the way up the hill to just hold off the rallying Melon by a mere nose.

What’s next?

The Friday of the Festival hosts the pinnacle of the jumps season, the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Al Boum Photo returns to the scene of his 2019 victory to defend his crown, but faces a host of challengers in the shape of Nicky Henderson’s Santini, Willie Mullins’ Kemboy, Gordon Elliott’s Delta Work and Paul Nicholls’ Clan Des Obeaux. Elsewhere on the card, the JCB Triumph Hurdle tests the best of the juvenile hurdle division, with Solo, Goshen and Allmankind all leading fancies.

Follow us on Twitter racing365dotcom and like our Facebook page.

Latest