Connections of Aisling Oscar are eyeing a return to Newcastle for Aisling Oscar, who created a little slice of racing history at Southwell on Thursday when winning his eighth successive handicap.
While his previous seven wins for his current connections had all come at Newcastle, trainer Adrian Keatley had to look at Southwell for that record-equalling success in the Win £250,000 With BetMGM's Golden Goals Handicap.
Bought by Dan Astbury from Ireland for just 3,200 gns, the five-year-old son of Rajasinghe has risen from a mark of just 42 to 71 during his prolific spell.
Ridden by Oisin McSweeney, who had been on board for two of his wins, he came home the 3-1 favourite with his nearest rival, Studious, three-quarters of a length behind him.
The last horse to win eight handicaps in a row was the Reg Akehurst-trained Ballynakelly between 1995 and 1996. And now connections are hoping to make it nine wins on the bounce at Newcastle next week.
Astbury said, “Aisling Oscar has come out of the race really well. Adrian sent me a video of him this morning and he was moving unbelievably well so that is great news. All being well, he will go to Newcastle on Saturday week.
“He'll have to step up into a 0-85 handicap but hopefully he can continue on progressing. There are a number of other races we could look at it but that race on February 14 is the number one plan.”
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