50/1 shot Lisnagar Oscar put local trainer Rebecca Curtis back in the big time with a shock win in the Stayers’ Hurdle by beating crowd favourite Paisley Park.

Paisley Park won this race last year and has been unbeaten since, but Lisnagar Oscar defied the odds with a brilliant win for Curtis.

He made smooth progress throughout and hit the front ahead of the last hurdle before driving clear and winning with room to spare.

The win in Thursday's feature race was Lisnagar Oscar's first of the season after a tricky start, although he showed encouraging signs when third to Paisley Park at Cheltenham in January.

A delighted Curtis, who takes her tally of victories at Cheltenham to five, said she didn’t expect her stable-star to win, despite his overinflated odds.

"He ran a blinder, didn't he? Whatever happened to him at the beginning of the season, I'm not sure. I thought 50-1 was a massive price,” she told the Racing Post.

"It's a shock he's won. I didn't think he'd beat Paisley Park, but I was hoping we'd have a good run here after the last time. It was like he'd just got his confidence back the last time. I'm just speechless.

"Adam is what I call a solid, solid jockey. I'm delighted for him to have his first festival winner. He's given him a brilliant, brilliant ride."

Adam Wedge delivered a great performance on board the winner and was full of praise for his mount and the people that have supported him.

"It's unbelievable, just fantastic. He fought like a little lion. I couldn't believe it when I hit the front and was just praying he'd keep galloping,” he said.

"I've got fantastic people behind me. Evan [Williams], Emma [Lavelle], and then obviously Becky and Christian [Williams]. When you've got that sort of support, you ride with a lot of confidence."

Emma Lavelle, trainer of 4-6 favourite Paisley Park, who finished seventh, said: "It's disappointing. It's one of those things. They're not machines. He seems absolutely fine, but never travelled with his usual zest.”

Lisnagar Oscar was Curtis’ second entry of the 2020 Festival after Sunset Showdown finished 11th in a very competitive Pertemps Hurdle earlier on Thursday.

Curtis will be hoping for another big-priced winner when Ruthless Article races in the final race of the Festival, the 5.30 Martin Pipe, off 80/1 in places.