Whisky impresses at Cheltenham Oscar Whisky successfully defended his crown in the Cheltenham & Three Counties Race Club Hurdle at Prestbury Park on Sunday. Nicky Henderson's star (4-6) won the contest 12 months ago and wasn't hard-pressed to follow up under Barry Geraghty. Cockney Trucker attempted to make all the running but was beaten off turning in, and it was left to Oscar Whisky and Poungach (15-8) to fight it out. However if there had been a referee he would have stopped the fight, as Geraghty was motionless all the way up the Cheltenham hill as Oscar Whisky won on the bridle. There was plenty of support for the Paul Nicholls-trained Poungach but he didn't jump with much fluency and although he worked his way into the race well, he was always fighting a losing battle. The response from bookmakers was swift, with Sky Bet going (11-2 from 7s) for the World Hurdle, as well as 12-1 (from 14s) for the Champion Hurdle.
