OSCAR WHISKY

MM - I essentially agree with you that he should be running in the Champion and should be second favourite (or very close to). I don't think he'd beat either BB or HF. However, he's probably got more chance of placing in the World as there seems to be less depth in quality. There seems to be some stable politics as they have Grandouet and Binocular for the Champion but nothing else for the World.

OW has been impressive on the track this season, especially at Cheltenham (on New Years Day??) when he won over 2 1/2 m hard on the bridle. On the basis of that race I'd expect him to get 3 m. However, I've got a feeling Celestial Halo will run in the World this year to make it a true test of stamina which would work against OW and perhpas blunt his speed.

I'd just add the horse is a scruffy little thing - not an eyecatcher in the paddock at all and in that sense no contest v Big Buck's!

Not sure about that myself.
Personally think hes the 2nd best 2miler in the yard behind Spirit Son,although Bino on his day could prove that wrong maybe.
They have been confident about staying 3m since i was told that was the plan last Easter,and only the doubts about HF have swayed then to going for the CH imo.
Must admit i was hoping they would try 3m at some stage,but really all that would have done was show us,it would not affect his getting the distance at Cheltenham,he either will or wont,the fact they are going for it,and the confidence they have is good enough for me.
That last half mile in the WH is going to be one of the mose eagerly awaited parts of the festival for me,really cant wait.
I just want to see him show a turn of foot at the end of 3m,if he does he can win the race,whether he does,well thats to find out.

I think OW has improved again this yr (stands to reason he would too) but i doubt he's improved enough to de- throne Hurricane Fly.

The decision to go to the stayers seems to have been formulated on similar thinking and also because they had 3 other good darts for the champion - I think they think (as I do) that SS would have been a danger to Hurricane, I think they probably think Binocular comming back to his best could give him a race (I am not so sure) and has nowhere else to go and I think they think (as I do) that Grandouet has nowhere else to go and deserves a shot (unlikely IMO to be good enough). Given this, and based on home work and last yr's result in te champion, i imagine they concluded there is no point running a 4th in the race (obviously SS went wrong) even if he is owned by somebody else.

If there is a lack of depth to the Stayers, it may be easier to exploit that than the Champion. He is a seriously good horse and I think it is true that if a 2.4m race existed in March they would head in that direction. As it happens I am under no illusions about him beating BB but I think he's the biggest cert ever to make the frame at least.

Thieves,its true thats in my mind,but i really think its in the mind of connections as well,but i appreciate i dont know that for a fact,but its my personal view,as i said.
Binocular has the better form,of course,hes won the race,but that dont mean that they dont now rate SS as their best,they are certainly very bullish about him.
Whatever though,for me they have decided he has a better chance in the WH than he does in the CH.
Makes sense to me.
Oscar Whisky is top notch over 2 and half,and the way he looks at that distance its quiet reasonable to me,and it appears to connections,to expect him to be ok for another 4f.
Whether he can get 3m well enough to win the race is the big question imo.
Maybe Henderson and co already know the answer!!

Budd, I accept that it is in the mind of connections as well.  Your judgement m\y be right, my instinct is never to trust Henderson's judgement though!

I don't agree with the notion he is 'top class', perhaps over 2m 4f but that is an unfortunate distance at which to specialise.

He is very near to top class, but not quite good enough at 2m and I fully expect the same at 3m.

Bucksy will outstay him and that is that

Oscar Whisky is a bet to nothing, will be the dirtiest filthiest each way (almost cert to place) bet of that whole week imo and 5/1 1/4 odds a place 123 is huge value! Especially as he will likely be much shorter come the day and his lay price on here in the place market will reflect his true odds to place in the race, compared to the others, and will be very short indeed, thus allowing one to fill their boots today, taking the small risk he don't get there, and laying off on the day of the race to full stakes in the place market, thus ensuring a nice profit if placed, money back if unplaced, and a nice win if he wins!!!

With OW in the race, like last year, i also envisage BB to be a bigger price once again than that he currently has traded at and will trade at in the coming weeks antepost! Hasn't it been the case every year this horse has run and won this race he has been offered at much bigger odds the morning of the race than antepost in the month preceding? I see this as being no different, not with OW in it!

OW has only ever lost 3 hurdles races. One of them this season when he fell. The other two were both over two miles, the Supreme and Champion Hurdle.

WATCH OUT.

People moan what has Big Bucks beat.... what has Oscar Whisky beat? Not a lot Thousand Stars and thats about it.

It would be an interesting race if horses could smile or better still, laugh.

Name them. I have of course looked through all his form and apart from when he fell when 'he was going to piss up' I am not that impressed.

I am not saying he has beat nothing but to take on the Bucks and have people expecting a great contest he needs to have achieved more imo.

BTW,
where do you think Punhestowns,Time For Rupert and Grand Crus would finish in an aintree hurdle against Oscar Whisky,all at their best??

I thought the Aintree hurdle was 2m 4f? I suppose they would get beaten as that is Oscar's trip which I grudgeingly agreed he top class at...

I want my Cheltenham more than covered by a Big Bucks win, throw in the Fly and its Caramel Latte time.

All this talk of Big Bucks perhaps being beaten is quite frankly upsetting

Inglis Drever tried 3 miles for the first time in a world hurdle (taking on a horse of Big Bucks status in Baracouda) - the rest is history...

When BB won his first World he went of at 6/1 and thrashed well known French hound Kasbah Bliss (10/11 fav). Stranger thigs have happened than an OW win.

And by Cadoudal whose progeny tend to age very badly (BB being the only real exception so far).

Indeed. And for Long Run

What about Kauto Star?

That was aimed at Budd not Stront btw.

oops,perhaps not!!