Benatar just held off Finian's Oscar in a pulsating three-runner Mitie Noel Novices' Chase at Ascot on Friday.

Bryan Cooper attempted to make all the running on Finian's Oscar but his jumping in the first half of the race left a lot to be desired and he ended up conceding the lead to Dolos.

To his credit, Finian's Oscar warmed to the task and while not looking a natural, he never seemed like falling at any stage.

He hit the front turning into the straight but Benatar (7/4) and Jamie Moore were still going well and his fluent jumping gave him a length advantage.

Finian's Oscar tried to fight back after the last but the line came a few strides too soon and he succumbed by a short head.

Winning trainer Gary Moore said: "My horse was over-racing. He was travelling too well. He could have done with a better gallop and the second horse was not jumping with his usual fluency and subsequently ours has had to move up into the race earlier than he needed to.

"The jockey on the second horse was slapping his and mine has become lit up. He has had to use him earlier than he wanted.

"He has really stuck his neck out, though, and he wanted to win. He is a proper horse. I think he will get three miles. It was tough out there today and he has got the two-five [2m 5f] okay. We will have to see what the ground is at Cheltenham but we will enter him in the JLT and RSA and take it from there.

"I will have to go back and see what there is. He might have one more race before Cheltenham. He is up and coming and I do see him as a Ladbrokes Trophy horse one day."

Colin Tizzard is hoping the application of headgear might help Finian's Oscar brush up his jumping.

He said: "He was doing nothing the first mile, very much like he was at Sandown the other day. To be fair, Bryan gave him a lovely ride and he had a hell of a chance in the end. He gave away too much ground with his jumping.

"We will go up in trip and put some cheekpieces or blinkers on. As Bryan said, it is not that he is ungenuine, he is just careful. The word 'brave' we used a couple of days ago is quite significant - he just needs to be a bit braver.

"It was a good run anyway and he nearly got there. We were giving the winner 5lb. We just need to straighten him up. He will go three miles now with something on his head, probably cheekpieces."

SMART HURDLER

Claimantakinforgan was a comprehensive winner of the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices' Hurdle on the same card.

Third in the Champion Bumper at last season's Cheltenham Festival, Nicky Henderson's five-year-old made a successful start to his hurdling career at Newbury in early November and was the 6/4 favourite stepped up to Grade 2 level for a race registered as the Kennel Gate.

Colin Tizzard's expensive purchase Slate House jumped accurately in front for much of the two-mile journey, but the dual Cheltenham scorer quickly faded from the home turn.

Claimantakinforgan moved ominously into contention in the hands of Nico de Boinville and while the largely unconsidered Dr Des refused to go down without a fight after the final obstacle, the market leader pulled two and a quarter lengths clear at the line.

Theclockisticking was a clear third, with Slate House disappointing in fourth.

Henderson said: "We are on the right road and going the right way. Him and Altior have got one similarity and that is the grey in the top of their tails. I'm pleased as that is not his ground and he has got gears and he is a two-mile horse.

"We will be looking down the Supreme road. He has got some scope. He has got a very good head on him and he is a very good jumper. He has got a good racing brain on him.

"He was a baby last year and that is why we left him down the bumper division. He was a point-to-pointer and you could have gone hurdling with him but I said to the owners 'this horse wants minding'. His hurdling was very slick all the way and he was racing nicely all the way.

"The Dovecote (Kempton, February 24th) is probably a good place for him. I don't think he needs to do to much more as he is very sharp and quick."

Henry Oliver was thrilled with the performance of Dr Des, and said: "He has run a lovely race. As Tom (O'Brien) said, he is not completely straightforward, the other horse (Slate House) has taken him on a bit and he has took a bit of time to warm up.

"Tom has got him into a nice position down the hill and he has held his ground well. He has shown he is a 140 (rated) horse. We are probably going to go low-key next time."

DIVINE DISPLAY

The Henderson-trained Divine Spear moved a step closer to an outing at the Cheltenham Festival after maintaining his unbeaten record over fences in the Stella Artois Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.

The six-year-old made the most of his assured stamina when taking a drop back to two-miles-one in his stride, galloping his rivals into submission to cross the line 10 lengths clear of Exitas.

Henderson said of the 13/8 favourite: "That was good because he wants two and a half (miles). I was nervous about coming back to two and a bit but it just didn't look the strongest race and it looked a nice race for him.

"I'd like to think he can creep into the two-and-a-half-mile novice handicap at the Festival but we have got to judge it right."

Clondaw Native gained a deserved first success under Rules when grinding out victory in the eventmasters.co.uk Maiden Hurdle.

Despite being bustled along through the early stages, the 13/2 chance stuck to the task in determined fashion to get the better of Settie Hill by a neck, providing trainer Stuart Edmunds with his first winner at the track.

Edmunds said of his five-year-old: "He stuck his neck out well, but he is quite a lazy horse and he barely picks the bridle up.

"I was a little bit concerned about the ground as I had never tried him on it, he is such a good mover. The extra trip helped him a bit and he was brave in the end.

"We were looking to get him qualified for the race we won at Haydock with Petethepear (Challenger Stayers Hurdle) but we might have to rethink now."

The closing race, a listed bumper, featured a host of winners and it was won in good style by Didtheyleaveuoutto. Trained by Nick Gifford for owner J.P. McManus, the four-year-old son of Presenting gave jockey Barry Geraghty an armchair ride and looks one to follow.

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