COLIN Tizzard remains in fine form and won the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle with Rockpoint, who found stamina coming to his assistance over three miles and kept on gamely for Tom Scudamore to hold Lisnagar Oscar and Rocco after edging in front two out.

Sometimes a race like this will justify Grade 2 status and sometimes not.

Rockpoint, in the Thistlecrack colours, has been found lacking at this level before and just failed to get there in a three-mile handicap hurdle at Newbury last time when receiving 10lbs from the winner, Vive Le Roi.

On the face of it he would have plenty do in the Albert Bartlett at the festival but at least he has course knowledge.

Also, it is worth bearing in mind that Tizzard’s Kilbricken Storm won this a year ago before going on to land the Grade 1 contest at the festival.

“You never know where they’ll stop once they start improving,” the trainer said. “We thought when we won with Kilbricken Storm that was as good as were going to get, then he went on.”

Drovers for Curtis

THE Tizzard yard might have expected to be on the mark earlier on when The Russian Doyen started 9/4 favourite for the Ryman Novices’ Chase over two and a half miles.

However, his supporters soon knew their fate as he made a hash of the first fence and Robbie Power spent the rest of the race trying to get him back into contention but without success.

Victory went to Rebecca Curtis’ 3/1 shot Drovers Lane, a son of Oscar, who went on at the 10th for Sean Bowen and kept on well to beat Le Breuil, despite stumbling three from home.

The winning margin was a length and a half, with Henderson’s Jenkins right behind in third. Le Breuil has kept good company in this early part of the campaign and the form looks solid.

Nelson does enough

THE JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle almost certainly had little bearing on the four-year-old championship in March but it saw Tony Carroll’s 6/1 chance Nelson River battling on well get up close home and foil Fantan Du Seuil and long-time leader Katpoli.

Formerly with Clive Cox, Nelson River won at Bangor last time and has form on the flat at Pontefract and on the all-weather at Wolverhampton. There is nothing wrong with that, of course, and Carroll has always been a canny operator, going right back to his days as a journeyman National Hunt jockey for Bristol trainer David Wintle.

However, the overall impression is that the big stables are unwilling to show their hand too soon and this was a modest affair.

Ozzie one for Oscar

ON a good day for his sire Oscar, Ozzie The Oscar won the Cheltenham Club Handicap Chase in the hands of Dickie Johnson.

Top Gamble had travelled well when ridden by Johnson last time and there was money for him but he departed at the third, leaving Ozzie The Oscar to make the best of his way home.

He kept on well despite mistakes at the sixth and again four out, rallying to head recent winner Bun Doran before going on to score by three and a half lengths.

Henderson’s Theinval was beaten a surprisingly long way in third but may well come good in the spring, as he did last year.

The closing OLBG.com Mares’ Hurdle went to Noel Williams’ Sensulano, who beat Oscar Rose to follow up her Ascot success. Bred by John Harrington, she started at 4/1.

Destin delivers

DONCASTER favourite backers were on good terms with themselves as Paul Nicholls’ Quel Destin (8/11) took the Grade 2 Summit Juvenile Hurdle – but only narrowly from Elysees – while Kim Bailey’s Rocky’s Treasure (11/8) drew well clear in the Grade 2 December Novices’ Chase to enhance his RSA claims.

Harrington’s heroine

JESSICA Harrington sent the Ann & Alan Potts-owned mare Magic Of Light to Newbury on Wednesday for the Listed Thoroughbred Breeders Association Mares’ Chase over three miles and she came home an impressive 14-length winner from the favourite, Drinks Interval, after taking it up four out. The seven-year-old Flemensfirth mare could now be aimed at the Thyestes Chase.