“Unbelievable” Aisling Oscar Bids For Record-Equalling Eighth Win On The Bounce At Southwell

[Wandering Eyes]

When you spend 3,200gns at the horses-in training sales on a 42-rated handicapper, the barometer of expectation cannot be set very high. Win a little race somewhere? Great. Win a couple? You're a genius. Win seven in a row and bid for a modern day record-equaling eighth success on the trot? You must be having a laugh. 

Well, the ownership group of Barry And The Chuckles are the only ones laughing here. It was through bloodstock agent Dan Astbury that the syndicate picked up Aisling Oscar for that paltry sum from a Tattersalls Online Sale in September. The group of owners, of which Astbury is a part of, have scarcely been able to wipe the smiles off their faces ever since. 

The grin could be about to widen further as the Adrian Keatley-trained five-year-old will be bidding for that record-equaling eighth win on the trot at Southwell on Thursday. However, if Aisling Oscar is to be successful, he will need to prove himself away from Newcastle, where all seven of his wins for current connections have been recorded. 

Astbury said, “The preference would have been for this race to be at Newcastle because he has such a big stride but unfortunately the races did not suit. Southwell is probably the second-best track for him as it is the longest all-weather straight there is away from Newcastle so we're hoping for the best.

“Aisling Oscar is unbelievable – he takes his runs so well and comes out bouncing from every race. Adrian and all of his team have done an amazing job and, touch wood, he seems to be taking it all in his stride. But, he looks to have a favourite's chance on form on Thursday. I know he is up in the weights but it is a pretty similar race to the one he won cosily last time at Newcastle. Hopefully he can go very close again.”

So, how did we end up here, with Aisling Oscar hoping to replicate the achievements of the Reg Akehurst-trained Ballynakelly, who won eight times between 1995 and 1996?

Astbury, who is perhaps best known for sourcing classy horses for the National Hunt sphere, is the first person to admit that Aisling Oscar has exceeded all expectations by climbing a whopping 25lbs in the space of just four months. 

He explained, “We only bought Aisling Oscar for a little bit of fun. We bought him to target him at the all-weather bonus, but for it to have gone as well as it has, it's been brilliant. He had good all-weather form given he won twice when trained by Craig O'Neill in Ireland. Racing at Dundalk is a lot more competitive than the all-weather racing over here and the other angle we had is that he has a massive stride length. We bought him to run at Newcastle but we couldn't get him in any races at the start because he was rated so low. That's why he ran on debut for us at Wolverhampton.”

Aisling Oscar has cashed a little over £25,000 in winning prize-money for current connections. Far more lucrative than that, however, is the all-weather bonuses he has netted over the winter months. A much bigger carrot awaits if the winning machine can maintain his status as the most successful performer in Britain this winter given a lucrative bonus of £100,000 will be on offer for the all-weather horse of the year at the end of the season.

Astbury concluded, “The all-weather bonus system played a big factor in us buying Aisling Oscar. If it wasn't in place, we probably wouldn't have bought him. It's a huge incentive and, to be fair, they are getting a lot more runners on the all-weather in England now because of the bonus so it's working well. The race values can be thin but, with the bonuses, it gives people a reason to get involved. I obviously didn't think we were going to win seven races with him but I thought we could win a few and that's why we bought him. I can't say enough about what a brilliant job that Adrian has done with him. The horse looks an absolute beast at the minute so fingers crossed he can go in again.”

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