O'Maonlai plays the tune

O'Maonlai (Oscar) finally delivered on the promise he had shown last season over hurdles in Ireland when scoring by nine lengths on the bridle.

Trainer Tom George had high expectations and is relieved O Maonlai finally transferred the form he shows on the gallops to the racecourse.

"To be honest I've been expecting him to do something like that for a while," said George.

"He's a very good work horse and some of his form in Ireland was very good, he wasn't far behind The Tullow Tank once. I think we've been running him on the wrong tracks, tight tracks like Huntingdon and Warwick, and we'd been trying to ride him handy.

Then last time at Ffos Las we dropped him out but he nearly fell and was pulled up on a day we thought he would have won.I think he's the sort who'd go really well in a novice handicap chase at Punchestown."

O'Maonlai was purchased privatley, on behalf of owner Mr David Fox, from Ireland last summer. it has taken him a while to acclimatise but on the back of this performance he looks to have a bright future over fences.