Whisky set for chasing debut

Oscar Whisky will miss an engagement at Wincanton this weekend and instead kick off his career over fences in the Steel Plate And Sections Novices' Chase at Cheltenham on Friday week.

With a rating of 164 over hurdles, Nicky Henderson's 13-times winner is a hugely exciting prospect for the novice chase division this season.

The eight-year-old has given an entry in Saturday's Rising Stars Novices' Chase in Somerset, but will now head for Cheltenham in a race won by the likes of Imperial Commander (2007), Grands Crus (2011) and Dynaste (2012).

Oscar Whisky's owner Dai Walters said: "He is going to go to Cheltenham next Friday to run in the two-and-a-half-mile novice chase. He's in good form and Nicky tells me he is jumping well, so fingers crossed all goes nicely at Cheltenham."

Oscar Whisky heads a strong team of horses for Ffos Las supremo Walters, who also owns runaway Kempton bumper winner West Wizard.

The four-year-old is entered over hurdles at Wincanton and Ffos Las this weekend, but is unlikely to take up either entry.

Walters said: "He is a very nice young horse and I think we are going to wait for some better ground, maybe at somewhere like Kempton.

"I had a chat with Nicky on Wednesday and he thinks he could be very good, so we want to wait until he gets his conditions.

"Barry Geraghty tells me he is one of the nicest young horses he has sat on for a long time."

Walters has strengthened his hand for the campaign with the acquisition of African Gold, who won four times over hurdles for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies last season and was second to At Fishers Cross in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham.

"I've bought African Gold and he is staying with Nigel. The plan is for him to run in the three-mile novice chase at Cheltenham next Saturday," said the owner.