Whisper© Photo Healy Racing
Whisper is set to have a break before returning to action in the New Year after finishing tired when a well-beaten last of five on unsuitable ground at Newbury on Saturday.
The Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Festival Trials' Day in January is a likely port of call for Nicky Henderson's classy stayer, who had outpointed Ladbrokes World Hurdle hero Cole Harden in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree in April on his previous start.
Owner Dai Walters felt the pace was too severe in the testing conditions for Whisper's seasonal debut in the Long Distance Hurdle won by Thistlecrack.
"He's fine, but the ground was terrible," said Walters.
"He had to follow Cole Harden. He's a good horse so he had to keep up with him and pushed him too hard. They should have the run the race a bit slower, I reckon.
"He'll probably go for the Cleeve Hurdle, something like that. He'll have a decent break now."
