Oscar Whisky beating Thousand Stars at Aintree last year© Photo Healy Racing
Owner Dai Walters confirmed Oscar Whisky is likely to take his chance in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival next month.
Trainer Nicky Henderson and Walters have had many sleepless nights over the Cheltenham target for the dual Aintree Hurdle winner.
But after he ran a fine race to be touched off by Reve De Sivola in the Cleeve Hurdle over three miles, the World Hurdle is now preferred over another crack at the Champion Hurdle, in which he finished third in 2011.
Oscar Whisky was fifth in the World Hurdle last season but connections remain convinced the horse was not himself that day.
"He's very well," Walters told At The Races.
"We'll wait and see what the weather is like. I'll be fair to the public and say he'll go for the World Hurdle, but I have paid £1,000 this week to leave him in the Champion Hurdle as things can change."
