Champion bid for Whiteoak

DONALD McCain has given Whiteoak the green light to take her chance in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday rather than the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle on the same card.

The six-year-old won the latter race at the showpiece meeting 12 months ago but left connections in a quandary over running plans for this year after running a fine second in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton last month.

McCain and owner Brendan Richardson have been mulling over whether to let the mare defend her crown or have a tilt at the hurdling showpiece, and the trainer has confirmed she will now take on the likes of Binocular in the highlight of the opening day’s action.

“We have decided to let Whiteoak take her chance in the Champion Hurdle,” said the Cheshire handler.

“We have talked about it long and hard but she is a very good mare and we think the world of her. To this day we genuinely don’t know how good she is, but we’ll find out on Tuesday.”

McCain went on: “She showed in the Kingwell that she can travel at speed and jump at speed with some of the best two-milers around.

“She was always going to come on a bundle for that race as it was quite a rushed job getting her there. Since then she has been working tremendously and she is in the best form we have ever had her.

“It’s very hard to turn your back on a race you are a short-priced favourite for at the Cheltenham Festival, and it was a very difficult decision.

“It’s a very competitive Champion Hurdle but I think it is very open. I think she goes there with the same chance as the main contenders.

“She did her last piece of serious work on Wednesday morning and she is very fit. She’ll have a school or two but we will just try and keep her healthy now,” he told Racing UK.