'My faith hasn't been dented' - Curtis confident Lisnagar Oscar can bounce back

Last year's shock Stayers' Hurdle hero Lisnagar Oscar will prepare for this season's festival at Haydock on Saturday, and trainer Rebecca Curtis is convinced her Cheltenham champion retains his ability despite two defeats this term.

The eight-year-old, who races in the colours of the Racing For Fun partnership, has long been held in high regard by Curtis and outran odds of 50-1 to cause a surprise in the Paddy Power-backed Grade 1 last March.

He is 25-1 with the sponsor to strike in the three-mile championship again after finishing fourth in a Grade 2 at Wetherby and then coming seventh in Newbury's Long Distance Hurdle in November.

Off since, Lisnagar Oscar was declared to run in a handicap off top weight at Exeter last Sunday but Curtis withdrew him because of the testing conditions.

Instead, Haydock's Grade 2 William Hill Rendlesham Hurdle will be next.

"I didn't want to run him with top weight on that ground, so he'll go to Haydock on Saturday now," said Curtis, whose leading light has had a breathing operation since his last appearance.

Adam Wedge and Rebecca Curtis celebrating their big winCredit: Edward Whitaker

"We were trying to get a run into him before the Stayers' Hurdle but there wasn't much for him after the Cleeve Hurdle was off, so we found that Exeter race but the ground went against us.

"He seems as good as we've had him and he's had his wind done, which should help as I think that was the problem with his last two runs. Hopefully we'll see an improvement."

Rendlesham Hurdle card

Based on the west coast of Wales in rural Pembrokeshire, Curtis, who hopes festival ally Adam Wedge can ride Lisnagar Oscar, added: "He'll be ready to do himself justice on Saturday, but he struck into himself at Newbury so missed some time, plus he's had his wind done.

"He might just take this one, but my faith hasn't been dented – definitely not. I think he's as good as last year and we've foudn an excuse for those last couple of runs in that he needed his wind doing, so we'll see."

Entries for the Rendlesham include last year's winner Emitom, On The Blind Side and popular veteran Unowhatimeanharry.

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