CHEPSTOW

BRYAN Cooper will be riding for Alan Potts in Britain this winter and made his mark at Chepstow on Saturday, winning the Listed totequadpot Novices’ Chase on 1/3 chance Finian’s Oscar for Colin Tizzard.

This was a routine victory once Paul Nicholls’ Alcala slipped-up after the 11th, Finian’s Oscar easily accounting for the other two runners. He should take high rank among the novice chasers but already stays well beyond the Arkle trip.

Nicholls and Sam Twiston-Davies had won the first two races with Dynamite Dollars and If You Say Run but the real star of the day was young 7lb claimer Mitchell Bastyan, who completed a double for Evan Williams on Silver Streak (10/1) in the limited handicap hurdle and Court Minstrel (14/1) in the big race, the totepool Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle.

Bastyan’s claim made the difference both times and he did particularly well on Court Minstrel, who was winning this race for the second time in three years.

At Sunday’s meeting, the Grade 2 totepool Persian War Novices’ Hurdle went to local trainer Fergal O’Brien with his cheap purchase Poetic Rhythm, ridden by Paddy Brennan.

Colin Tizzard’s expensive purchase for Alan Potts, Vision Des Flos, stayed on to take third.

Paul Nicholls and Sam Twiston Davies’ good form continued with a double from the impressive novice chaser Romain De Senam and the odds-on Mont Des Avaloirs in the bumper.

PhiIip Hobbs’ juvenile Gumball made it two from two in the opening hurdle and looks a useful recruit.