Geraghty and Henderson on fire at Aintree Oscar Whisky completed a remarkable hat-trick for Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty when just holding Thousand Stars in the John Smith's Aintree Hurdle. The Champion Hurdle third, carrying the colours of Ffos Las owner Dai Walters, was always travelling well and jumped into the lead at the fourth-last flight. He went clear of the field but was all-out at the line to keep Thousand Stars and Katie Walsh at bay by a neck, with Salden Licht third. Market leaders Peddlers Cross and Henderson's other runner Binocular were well beaten. Geraghty said: "He's very game. The plan was to track Peddlers Cross but I was quite happy to sit behind Ruby (Walsh, on Celestial Halo). "He came alive with me down the back and I was happy to just go with it. "Like Spirit Son he's promised loads. He was fourth in the Supreme last year and third in the Champion this, but he's done it today." Henderson said: "After the first two days I'd half a mind to take them all home because it was awful, but today was the big day of the three and we always knew that. "Barry said go for the Champion hurdle next year, but he's grown up a lot today and he'll be year older and he might want to go further. The good thing is we've got the whole summer to think about it. "Binocular was too bad to be true, I think he's better than that. They didn't go a gallop and I expected him to pick up. You know with him when he's not right as he knocks his hurdles and he was doing that today. "Oscar Whisky won't run again this season and I shouldn't think Binocular will either, but I will have to talk to JP (McManus, owner)." Thousand Stars' rider Katie Walsh said: "I love that horse and he gave me a winner at Cheltenham. "Going to the last I thought I would win, but to be fair to Oscar Whisky he kept pulling out every step of the way. "On the run-in it might have looked as though as I was going to get there, but I half knew I was never quite going to make it." Unfortunately Walsh was given a six-day ban for using her whip with excessive frequency and in the incorrect place. Willie Mullins, trainer of Thousand Stars, said: "The thing is now I'm not sure whether to run him over two miles or three miles at Punchestown. He certainly wasn't stopping there. "I'll have to have a word with Katie."
