Oscar Whisky and Thousand Stars to revive rivalry in the Grade 1 John Smith’s Aintree Hurdle at Aintree
Aintree will become home for the Grade 1 John Smith’s Aintree Hurdle that will be raced over two miles and four furlongs on Saturday, 14th April. The purse for the race is set at £90,032 and taking part are six four-year and older thoroughbreds.
Leading the line-up with the most appealing credentials is Oscar Whisky, Oscar’s seven-year-old bay gelding out of mare, Ash Baloo. Nicky Henderson’s under charge has returned to defend his last year’s title.
On 9th April 2011, Oscar Whisky won the Grade 1 John Smith’s Aintree Hurdle over two miles and four furlongs. With Barry Geraghty onboard, Oscar Whisky got a keen grip of the concluding yards as the reeling in runner up of the race, Thousand Stars,
was only at a neck’s difference.
Striding on for the third position after the winner was Salden Licht while the 11/8 favourite of the race, Peddlers Cross, finished seventh on the track of eight.
Thousand Stars is ready for testing his luck today that last time got him till the second position. The eight-year-old grey gelding won the second and third last starts of the previous season and since then has not posted any victory.
Through the two starts that Grey Risk’s grey gelding out of mare, Livaniana, has made during the new season, he finished third and then fourth.
Oscar Whisky on the other hand claimed two out of the three outings that he ventured through during the new season.
He won the Cheltenham & Three Counties Club Hurdle on 1st January at Cheltenham over two miles and four and a half furlong. Riding with Barry Geraghty, the 4/6 favourite of the race led the runner up, Poungach, by two lengths.
Settling third behind the winner was Cockney Trucker.
Sent as the favourite a straight second time, Oscar Whisky won the Better Prices On Betfair Mobile “Jumpers’ Bumper” National Hunt Flat Race on 10th February at Kempton over two miles.
Yet again riding with his regular jockey, Oscar Whisky was in lead of three lengths as Sir Harry Ormesher qualified as the runner up.
Striding on for the third position behind the winner was Milgen Bay.
Thousand Stars and Oscar Whisky will give each other a tough time but even the rest of the line-up is not completely harmless and can pose to be threats.
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