The New One Unibet Hurdle
£75,000 guaranteed,
Haydock Park 14:35
4yo plus,
1m 7f 144y, Class 1  
Saturday 22nd January 2022

1 Tommy's Oscar 4/7F
2 Global Citizen 25/1
3 Hunters Call 11/4
6 ran Distances: 5l, 9½l, 2¾l
Time: 3m 52.20s (slow by 14.20s)

A tilt at the Champion Hurdle looks to be on the cards for Tommy’s Oscar after he extended his winning streak to four at Haydock.

Handicap victories at this venue, Doncaster and Musselburgh had seen the seven-year-old’s mark rise from 138 to 156 – earning him a step up to Grade Two level for ‘The New One’ Unibet Hurdle.

The 4-7 favourite was given a cool ride by champion conditional Danny McMenamin, who was happy to sit several lengths behind last year’s winner Navajo Pass and Global Citizen for much of the way.

Ann Hamilton’s charge readily made up the ground in the home straight and was driven out after the final flight to beat the latter by five lengths.

MansionBet cut Tommy’s Oscar to 25-1 from 33-1 for the Champion Hurdle – and despite having doubts about the suitability of the undulating track at Cheltenham, connections will consider giving it a go.

Hamilton’s husband, Ian, said: “He couldn’t have done it any easier really. He was there to be shot at today, odds-on favourite, he had quite a bit to lose and not a lot to gain.

“He’s seven, his improving all the time. We bought him as three-mile chaser but he doesn’t stay, he’s a two-miler.

“I’m chuffed to bits with him. If someone will drive the box we’ll go (to Cheltenham)!

“The only thing is he’s been winning races here and at Musselburgh and they are flat tracks, Cheltenham is very undulating which will be different.

“I suppose we’ve got to give it a go.”

Ann Hamilton is of a similar mindset, adding: “The horses are very well this year, next year they might not be, things might go wrong, so we’ll probably have a go.

“It was quite a hard watch for a bit until they turned in from the bottom corner when Danny started to move up. He’s a lovely horse and he tries his best.

“If we’re going to go to Cheltenham this is the year to do it, when the horses are well.”

BetGoodwin

The New One Unibet Hurdle
(Registered As The Champion Hurdle Trial Hurdle)
£75,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 7f 144y, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Soft

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1      Tommy's Oscar 7 11-4 Ann Hamilton Danny McMenamin 4/7F
2 5 Global Citizen 10 11-4 Ben Pauling Kielan Woods 25/1
3 9½ Hunters Call 12 11-4 Olly Murphy Aidan Coleman 11/4
4 2¾ Navajo Pass 6 11-10 Donald McCain Brian Hughes 16/1
5 5½ Rockadenn 6 11-4 Alastair Ralph Nick Scholfield 12/1
6 7½ Garo De Juilley 10 11-8 Sophie Leech Sean Bowen 125/1