Osar Whiskey

Don't know, but surely there'll be pots he can take in. Given how BB hasn't ran in the Cleeve last two years that may well be at OW's mercy

Dont know either,but gut feeling is he will start off at around 2 and half(Ascot?),then either a race before the Cleeve and then the WH,or the Cleeve and WH.
Really dont think they will take on BB till Cheltenham.
One thing i do know is that they are very confident he will stay 3m.

Agreed Budd, I don't think staying will be a problem, beating Big Bucks is a different story though. Its good too see that at least some aren't afraid to challenge him though. The fact Grand Crus was such a legit challenger has helped Big Bucks to prove how good he is

Yep,we need challengers to Big Bucks,and with his class form he could well be a big challenger.
Certainly hope so,been having a few bets on him.

I love him (backed him at some fancy ante-post prices for the Champion last term, as I seem to remember you did too bud), but unlike you I am not convinced he will stay 3m thoroughly. Class will get him through against the lesser lights but I still think he is all about speed and can't imagine him possibly staying strongly enough to give Bucks a test in the World Hurdle.

If they wanted to, they could win one of those Grade Two 2m4f hurdles every other week in Ireland!

Tomdeane I agree entirely.

Im not convinced he will stay 3m strong enough either Tom,but having talked to the yard about him they do seem quiet confident he will.
Thats good enough for me to have a few small bets at current prices,but of course he does have to beat a formidable opponent should they both turn up on the day.

Do they really think Big Bucks is more beatable than Hurricane Fly? I wasn't sure Oscar could jump quite quickly enough to be a Champion winner but loved the way he flew his hurdles at Aintree. I'd love to see him in the Champion again with another year on his back and hope they don't go down the staying route

Think its a case that they think he is a stayer rather than a 2miler.Yes he jumps well enough at speed but HF is a faster horse.
Should something happen to HF then its possible they could campaign for the CH,but i expect them to try him over 3m.
At the moment its probably fair to say that 2 and half is his ideal distance,but they have to try him over 3m imo,and then see where they go from there.
I know that they are confident he will stay 3m as i have said before,well thats what i was told,but until he faces serious horses over that distance we wont know for sure.

Thousand Stars is also being aimed at the World Hurdle by the sounds of things. Although very much in Hurricane Fly's shadow as a 2 miler he was still one of the top 5 to 10 around the last couple of years. Very little between him and OW, so if he stays 3m would be another interesting challenger. However I was hoping for a lot more than 14.5 at this early stage

Scrap that "if he stays" comment I've just noticed his last race at Auteuil was a win over 3m2 in very soft conditions.

if something happened to hf i reckon the arkle would start to look a little light in runners.