MARKET RASEN

MALCOLM Jefferson’s Oscar Rock made limited progress over hurdles but looks a very promising individual over fences and took Saturday’s Racing FX Prelude Handicap Chase at Market Rasen with some authority.

Travelling easily for Brian Hughes in mid-division, he moved up with three to jump and took full advantage of a mistake by Claret Cloak, quickly pulling away after the last to beat him by just over three lengths with Cloud Creeper third.

There was a handsome prize, some £28,000, for this listed event and Oscar Rock has not finished yet.

“He likes this good ground and two and a half miles plus. We’ll have a look at the Paddy Power at Cheltenham. He’s the sort who likes a good month between his races,’’ Jefferson said.

The sponsors quoted Oscar Rock at 20/1 for what is always a fiendishly competitive race.

CLOONACOOL DELIGHTS Stuart Edmunds took over the Buckinghamshire yard of Renee Robeson last January following her sad passing and enjoyed his biggest success to date when Cloonacool worked hard to land the same sponsors’ two-mile handicap hurdle at 11/2.

Ridden by Paddy Bren-nan,the six-year-old stayed on to master Queen Alphabet and Swansea Mile by a couple of lengths. Owners Nick Brown Racing picked up nearly £20,000.

There may be another hurdle for the winner before he goes novice chasing.

LEONCAVALLO HURDLE FORM

National Hunt racing has any number of heroes who were no great shakes on the flat, the great Persian War being a prime example.

The Cape Cross gelding Leoncavallo produced relatively little for Godolphin but John Ferguson has turned him into a possible star over hurdles and Aidan Coleman sent him clear for an impressive 14-lengths’ success over Pinkie Brown in the juvenile hurdle.

“He’s four from four now and we’re very happy with him,’’ Coleman enthused as the 7/4 favourite was being unsaddled.

The jockey’s arrangement with Ferguson, still a key member of the Godolphin team, is the best thing that has happened to him. Indeed, he is chasing up Richard Johnson in the jockeys’ table, admittedly at a conservative distance.

Leoncavallo will probably go for a Grade 2 hurdle at the Paddy Power meeting.