Grand National News: Time called on Oscar season

Grand National Betting / Timeform / 24 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Oscar Time has been ruled out for the season.

"He just has a slight tendon injury. It's nothing huge, but it's enough to keep him out for the season, which is obviously disappointing..."

Last season's Grand National runner-up Oscar Time has been ruled out for the season with a leg injury...

Running in the colours of last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Long Run, the 11-year-old almost gave owner Robert Waley-Cohen and his rider-son Sam a huge double at Aintree last April, but had to make do with the runner-up spot behind Donald McCain's Ballabriggs.

Following a creditable run over hurdles at Thurles in November, trainer Martin Lynch had been looking forward to another crack at the world's most famous steeplechase, but he will now not be making the trip across the Irish Sea.

"It's a big blow but it's not career-threatening and the main thing is he's still in one piece," said Lynch.

"He just has a slight tendon injury. It's nothing huge, but it's enough to keep him out for the season, which is obviously disappointing.

"He'd been in tremendous form since his run over hurdles - even better than he was this time last year if anything.

"He's a horse we've minded during his career so hopefully he'll be back next season."

While refusing to make any concrete plans, Lynch has raised the possibility of the gelding running in next season's Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival before another bid for Grand National glory.

"We'll obviously make plans nearer the time, but there's a possibility he could go down the hunter chase route and go to Cheltenham before he goes back to Aintree. It's all up in the air at the minute," the trainer added.

Robert Waley-Cohen said: "It's unfortunate and it just shows you how difficult it is just to get horse and jockey to the races at the top of their game.

"We were looking forward to running in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse as we wanted to get another run into him before Aintree.

"He's lightly raced and it's not unheard of for a 12-year-old to win the National, so hopefully he'll still be up to it next year. Fingers crossed."