OSCAR AND FLEMENSFIRTH ON CHELTENHAM SCORESHEET

There is no more competitive National Hunt meeting in the world than the Cheltenham Festival and among the stallions enjoying day three winners were Coolmore's pair Flemensfirth and Oscar.

 

Idole First (8 g Flemensfirth - Sharon Doll by Shahrastani), also successful at the 2005 Festival and bred by Ralph Alfandari, ran out an impressive four-length winner of the G3 Racing Post Plate for trainer Venetia Williams and jockey Alan O'Keeffe.

 

"He travelled well throughout. He's been a superstar and Alan's given him a great ride," said Williams."His owners are pretty Cheltenham focussed and the plan had always been to come here."

 

O'Keeffe added: "Everything went well and it worked out pretty smoothly. I've won six on him and he always tries his heart out. The atmosphere and crowd on a day like this always get him going. "It didn't feel like they went that quickly but he travelled and jumped and when they do that it's easy. I knew coming down the hill he'd quicken up well and he just took off from there."

 

Oscar Park (8g Oscar - Parkavoureen by Deep Run), bred by Mrs B Byrne, provided long-standing owner George Ward with a first Cheltenham Festival victory when landing the concluding Pertemps Final for trainer David Arbuthnot.

 

"I started training for George in the middle of January and this is my first winner at the Festival - I am absolutely delighted," said Arbuthnot. "This horse is so brave. He won't run again now - we will school him and get him ready to go chasing next season."