Whisky strengthens Jewson claims

Oscar Whisky strengthened his claims for what will probably be a tilt at the Jewson Novices’ Chase at the Festival with a clear-cut defeat of Taquin Du Seuil in the Cheltenham Pony Club Raceday Novices’ Chase yesterday.

His three-quarters of a length verdict might have been lessened had the runner-up not nodded on landing over the last with Tony McCoy, but the way Barry Geraghty’s mount galloped up the hill it is hard to imagine the result was affected.

Nicky Henderson is ready to give his 5-6 winner another outing ahead of the Festival, and said: “He’s on the older side to be switching to fences at nine, and I must wish him happy birthday, but he’s taken to it well. He’s a stuffy horse so we’ll probably give him another run. It could be in the Scilly Isles (at Sandown).

“Remembering he wasn’t that far off Champion Hurdle class we’ll put him in the Arkle as well, and that would be an option if it came up soft.”