Park misses bumper date
Oscar Park has been ruled out of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham next Wednesday after suffering a setback.
The six-year-old, owned by businessman George Ward, was a leading fancy for his Festival target at around 12-1 after winning both his races at Windsor and Warwick.
The Colin Tinkler-trained gelding overturned the useful Lennon on his latest outing and was set to be ridden by Mick Fitzgerald.
“I’m afraid he won’t be going to Cheltenham. He has pulled a muscle in his hind quarters and is slightly lame,” said Tinkler.
“He did it during a routine canter at the weekend. He’s almost sound again now but he’s missed four or five days work and you can’t go to Cheltenham less than 100 per cent.
“We’ll see how he is in the next week but I think he might miss Aintree as well and that might be it for the season. He’s a very good horse and I want to look after him,” added the Newbury-based handler.
