Oscar Time is to be retired by owner-trainer Robert Waley-Cohen after finishing 15th in the Crabbie’s Grand National on Saturday.
The 14-year-old, who was second to Ballabriggs in the 2011 National and fourth to Aurora’s Encore two years later before winning the Becher Chase in December, again completed the course under the trainer’s son, Sam.
Waley-Cohen, who trains the veteran at Edgehill, near Banbury, said: “He’s in great order, but I think we’ll call it a day and let him do something else he really enjoys.
“He might just help the young horses along or he might go hunting, anything bar racing. He’s been a wonderful horse to us.”
Chipping Norton trainer Charlie Longsdon could run Ely Brown in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on Saturday week after his charge’s first-fence fall.
Longsdon said: “He jumped the fence great, but with the extra speed that they all go on the run up, and combining that with the bigger fence, meant that he couldn’t get his landing gear out.”
Sport
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