OSCAR WHISKY is ready to take on Big Buck’s in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Aintree following his resounding success in yesterday’s Cheltenham & Three Counties Race Club Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Nicky Henderson’s charge landed yesterday’s two and a half mile contest under Barry Geraghty by two lengths from Poungach.
Henderson indicated that the seven-year-old would first bid for a second victory in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at owner Dai Walters’ Ffos Las venue next month.
But rather than have a second crack at the Champion Hurdle, in which he was an excellent second to Hurricane Fly last season, he will bid for the staying championship contest instead, where he will face Paul Nicholl’s unbeaten hurdling star Big Buck’s.
Big Buck’s will bid for an unprecedented fifth success in three-mile feature on March 15, before looking for a fourth success in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree a month later.
Nicholls’ star is currently a 4-7 chance to win the World Hurdle with Oscar Whisky a best-priced 8-1 with William Hill.
Asked about his Festival target, Henderson said: “I still think there can only be one. I hope he wins the Welsh Champion Hurdle again and that would be fair enough, but I suspect that won’t tell us that he can win the Champion Hurdle.”
Henderson thinks the Aintree contest may give Oscar Whisky a better chance of ending Big Buck’s unbeaten run, but he will still try to defeat at Cheltenham first. Henderson added: “He looked as big as me in the paddock and he wasn’t wound-up today.
“Part of me says he’s not a two-mile horse but we’ll go to Ffos Las again and then let’s have a go at Big Buck’s.
“This horse will travel away and I think he’ll get three miles. He has a fair bit of toe.
“After he comes back to have a crack at Big Buck’s, Aintree’s the obvious place for him. That race is ideal.”
Meanwhile Calgary Bay enhanced his claims for the John Smith’s Grand National with a welcome victory for trainer Henrietta Knight in the Bet With Your Mobile At Victor Chandler Handicap Chase yesterday.
Under Dominic Elsworth the nine-year-old (8-1) held on gamely from Richard Lee’s Hector’s Choice (20-1) to score by a length and a quarter.
Calgary Bay fell at the fourth fence in last season’s Grand National, but is a 33-1 chance with most firms for this year’s Aintree showpiece.
Knight said: “He has the stamina for the National, that is for sure, and Dominic has given him a very good ride today.
“He’s deserved this win because he’s been there or thereabouts in good races for a long time.
“He likes the good ground you often get at Aintree, and jumps well.”
Mostly Bob may head to the Scottish National after pulling off a big gamble to land the Raceodds Handicap Chase for Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson.
Backed down to 9-2 favourite from 12-1 in the morning, the nine-year-old stayed on to beat 2009 Grand National winner Mon Mome by four and a half lengths.
Hobbs said: “Ayr (the Scottish National) could be a long term project, especially if the ground is fast.
“He doesn’t want the soft and it was a borderline call on that front today.
“The big problem is that he’s still just out of the novice stage and has a lot to learn on the jumping front.”
Trainer Venetia Williams was delighted with Mon Mome’s effort and he could return to Prestbury Park for the Cheltenham Gold Cup before a return to Aintree.
She said: “He carried a stone less when winning here at the December meeting before his National, then he suffered a ligament injury.
“We could take in the Gold Cup, as he’s finished third in it before.”
TODAY’S NAP: Crocodile Bay (3.30pm Southwell).
