Monday 26 October 2015 15:52, UK
Malcolm Jefferson is delighted with the progress that Oscar Rock has made ahead of next month's Paddy Power Gold Cup.
The lightly-raced seven-year-old has won three of his last four starts with his only reverse coming when he was hampered and fell in a Grade Two contest at Ayr in April.
He bounced back from that with his seasonal reappearance when an impressive winner of a Listed handicap chase at Market Rasen last month and he has come out of the race in good form.
Jefferson said: "It was a good performance when he won at Market Rasen last time out and he has been grand at home since.
"Oscar Rock has been entered in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. I don't think he is too fussed by the ground, whether it is good or on the easy side of good is fine. Proper jumping ground is what we want really."
Entries for the two feature contests of The Open at Cheltenham close on Tuesday, October 27.
The £160,000 Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup and the £100,000 Grade Three StanJames.com Greatwood Hurdle take place during the three-day meeting, which runs from Friday, November 13 through to Sunday, November 15 inclusive.
Staged over two and a half miles, the Paddy Power Gold Cup is one of the most eagerly-anticipated handicap chases of the season and was last year won by the Paul Nicholls-trained Caid Du Berlais, who saw off the 2013 victor Johns Spirit by a head in a thrilling finish.
This year's renewal takes place on day two of The Open, Saturday, November 14, with the StanJames.com Greatwood Hurdle following 24 hours later
Sky Bet make Kings Palace their 8/1 favourite with stablemate Monetaire at 10/1 alongside Present View while Oscar Rock is a 16/1 chance.
