Nicky Henderson raises glass to Oscar Whisky but Binocular fails to enhance Champion case

Nicky Henderson won Saturday’s Champion Hurdle trials at Sandown and Ffos Las with Binocular and Oscar Whisky respectively. Both were very short prices but the results alone barely began to tell the whole story.

Nicky Henderson raises glass to Oscar Whisky but Binocular fails to enhance Champion case
Leap of glory: Oscar Whiskey ridden by Barry Geraghty jumps the last on the way to victory in the William Hill Welsh Champion Hurdle Credit: Photo: PA

If Oscar Whisky’s victory for Dai Walters, the owner and builder of Ffos Las, in the course’s inaugural running of the William Hill Welsh Champion Hurdle, was highly satisfactory on several counts and another step forwards, then the reigning champion’s win, a facile enough length and three-quarters over stable companion Ruthenoise at the finish of the Totesport Contenders Hurdle, appeared to be a step backwards.

In what should have been a stroll at little more than morning-gallop pace, AP McCoy found himself having to work Binocular going to the last to get to the front-running Ruthenoise.

A mistake by the leader spared his blushes and McCoy was able to coast up the hill and succeed in winning while giving Binocular as easy a race as possible.

“It was very similar to last year’s race,” said McCoy. “I was very surprised I had to give him a squeeze. If he hadn’t have won at Kempton the time before I’d have been gutted today. His jumping was fine, not as good as it was earlier this season, but I was being a bit cagey in a four-horse race.”

He did sweat up a bit more than usual beforehand and maybe Sandown is not his course but Stan James, the Champion Hurdle sponsor, eased him to 100-30 from 3-1. They shortened Oscar Whisky to 14-1 from 16-1.

While Binocular’s aim is set very much at the Cheltenham Festival in five weeks, yesterday was Oscar Whisky’s target and he cruised home by eight lengths.

Henderson, who is homing in on his 2,000th winner, said: “I’m thrilled for Dai. It’s a great racecourse so to win this race for him is very special.”

Having already won over 2½ miles at Cheltenham, the World Hurdle had been touted for Oscar Whisky but it seems owner, trainer and jockey were in unison about going for the Champion this year.

Alan King sent out a Sandown double with Kumbeshwar and the progressive Medermit.