Welsh champion hope for Walters
BBC
2011/02/02
Welsh Champion Hurdle
Venue: Ffos Las Racecourse
Date: Saturday, 5 February
Starts: 1440 GMT
Coverage: Full coverage on
Dai Walters hopes his star performer Oscar Whisky can continue his good form at his home Ffos Las track in the Welsh Champion Hurdle on Saturday.
Local millionaire businessman Walters was the driving force behind the new Welsh track and hopes for a winner in Ffos Las' inaugural two-mile showpiece.
The Nicky Henderson-trained six-year-old has suffered one defeat in six starts and Walters is hoping for more.
"He has done very well so far," said Walters. "Let's hope he keeps going."
Barry Geraghty, the 2003 Grand National winner, has ridden Oscar Whisky in all of his six outings since March 2009.
But 15-time champion jockey Tony McCoy, who rode Don't Push It to 2010 Grand National victory, has spoken of his desire to complete a Welsh double.
McCoy won the Welsh National at Chepstow last month on Synchronised and would like to add the £45,000 Welsh Champion Hurdle title to his impressive CV.
We have targeted the race right as it's six weeks before Cheltenham and I think it will be a good trial
Ffos Las owner Dai Walters
But McCoy is expected to ride Binocular at Sandown on Saturday.
Walters, the Ffos Las owner and civil engineering magnate, knows Oscar Whisky has a great chance to win the first Welsh Champion Hurdle in the biggest day of the Carmarthenshire course's 18-month history.
"He is in the number one stable at Nicky's," said Walters.
"And Mick Fitzgerald [former stable jockey] told me that when a horse is in the number one stable, Nicky thinks a lot of it.
"The plan would be to go to Cheltenham, but let's get Saturday out of the way first and then decide what race we go for.
"It's virtually Nicky's call when he wants to run him. It will be one or the other of the Champion Hurdle or the World Hurdle."
While obviously hoping his charge will emerge victorious, Walters is pleased to see the contest has attracted a high-class list of entries.
Local trainer Rebecca Curtis has a fantastic record at Ffos Las and the Pembrokeshire handler is represented by eight-year-old Black Jack Blues.
There are a total of 11 possible runners, including Donald McCain's unbeaten Peddlers Cross and smart stablemate Overturn.
Irish raider Won In The Dark and the Nicky Richards-trained Noble Alan are other interesting contenders.
"There is some good prize-money there, I think the race is worth £45,000," Walters added.
"We have targeted the race right as it's six weeks before Cheltenham and I think it will be a good trial."
WELSH CHAMPION HURDLE 1440 GMT Barizan (E Williams) Oscar Whisky (N Henderson) Won In The Dark (Miss S J Harty) Black Jack Blues (Miss R Curtis) Tarkari (E Williams)
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