Oscar Whisky canters to Welsh Champion Hurdle win

Nicky Henderson's Irish horse Oscar Whisky is in good form

Cheltenham hopeful Oscar Whisky won the inaugural Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las to givetrack owner Dai Walters victory in the course's showpiece race.

Barry Geraghty nursed the six-year-old to an eight-length victory ahead of Black Jack Blues to seal a "dream" win for Ffos Las founder Walters.

Oscar Whisky readied for the Cheltenham Festival in style after Champion Hurdle rival Binocular also scored at Sandown.

Oscar Whisky won in Wales as stablemate Binocular took the Contenders Hurdle.

At Ffos Las the odds-on favourite, trained by Nicky Henderson, took command of the first Welsh Champion Hurdle three hurdles out and comfortably held on for an easy victory.

Oscar Whisky's sixth victory in a seven-race career in the £45,000 feature race at the Carmarthenshire track delighted Walters.

"It's a dream come true," said the millionaire local civil engineer.

"It was a fantastic race and Oscar Whisky will come on from that run.

"I can't wait for Cheltenham now and I will have a few sleepless nights now before that event.

"Oscar Whisky is a very good horse. We must look after him now and not over-run him, he is a horse for the future.

"We know he can race two miles and we know he can race two-and-a-half miles. We can do whatever we want now.

"I'm so excited and also a little nervous by it all. I'll enjoy watching the race again when I go home.

"I get really wound up watching a race. I've had so many good horses fall at the last in Haydock and Aintree.

"Until he passes the winning line, that's when you know you've won.

"I've got a lot of confidence in Oscar Whisky - he's a very good horse."

Oscar Whisky beat Welsh trainer Rebecca Curtis' eight-year-old Black Jack Blues, who had set out to make all the running and stuck on gamely for second place.

Tarkari, also trained in Wales with Vale of Glamorgan handler Evan Williams, made a hash of the last and had to settle for third.