Stayers' repeat for wonder Whisper Whisper proved his liking for Aintree after showing a resolute attitude to register back-to-back successes in the Silver Cross Stayers' Hurdle. Favourite Cole Harden was sent straight into the lead by Gavin Sheehan as he looked to repeat the tactics deployed when winning the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and the three-mile Grade One only began to take shape as the field turned for home for the final time. Coming away from two out Cole Harden was joined by the Nicky Henderson-trained Whisper and, under the urgings of Gold Cup-winning jockey Nico de Boinville, the 5-1 shot began to forge clear, keeping on gamely all the way to the line to win by three and a half lengths. De Boinville said: "He had a troubled preparation during the winter, but he's a spring horse and when he gets the sun on his back he really comes into himself. He's thrived in the last two weeks. "He was a totally different horse to the one I rode at Exeter earlier in the season. He jumped and travelled brilliantly. He travelled well all the way and I was never particularly worried. I knew I had to be on the steel turning in and I just took it from there."
