Time called on Oscar season

Last season’s John Smith’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.