OSCAR Whisky’s Cheltenham Festival target will be decided after he runs in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las today.

Not that the six-year-old’s connections are using the race as a prep, as he is owned by Dai Walters, the man who masterminded the development of the Carmarthenshire venue.

Trainer Nicky Henderson admits this has been his aim all season, but having already won over two-and-a-half miles this season, there is a slight question mark that he may be seen to better effect over further than today’s two-mile trip.

‘‘He will be a chaser, but we’ll see where he gets to over hurdles first,’’ said Henderson.

‘‘It will be interesting as we didn’t really mean to step him up to two-and-a-half miles the other day, but he was terribly impressive doing it.

‘‘It gets into the back of your mind that if he stays that well, will he stay further?

‘‘But this is his target and we’ll find out if he’s a Champion Hurdle horse. He’s in the World Hurdle but we had to put him in having done what he did at Cheltenham.

‘‘In fairness, the World Hurdle now looks just as competitive as the Champion Hurdle, so we wouldn’t be taking an easier option if we did go down that route.”

Oscar Whisky’s jockey, Barry Geraghty, does not see the return to two miles as any problem at all.

‘‘I suppose any trip is open to him at the moment. He has enough pace and was only beaten four lengths by Menorah in the Supreme,’’ said Geraghty.

‘‘He jumped novicey enough on the day and there is improvement in his jumping. He travelled really easy over two-and-a-half miles, which you’d imagine he should, and he stayed well. But he has enough pace for two miles, so we’ll see how he goes on Saturday.’’ Sabrina Harty is hoping conditions will not be too testing for her good-ground performer Won In the Dark.

‘‘We’re going to let him take his chance. I just hope the ground isn’t too soft,’’ said the County Kildare trainer.

‘‘He seems to be in good form and the company may not be as hot as he usually meets. I just hope he puts in a good run and nothing goes wrong. It’s much heavier ground at home in Ireland.

‘‘When we get good ground we’ll be upping him in trip. This is just a stepping stone to keep him going.’’ Wymott is likely to make his next appearance in the RSA Chase after a dashing round of jumping on home territory at Bangor yesterday took his unbeaten streak over fences to three.

Donald McCain’s seven-year-old has now scored on two occasions at the Wrexham track, with a less impressive display at Exeter sandwiched in between, and he must now leave North Wales in favour of the Cheltenham Festival.

Wymott is not the speediest of individuals and required regular monitoring from Jason Maguire during the £20 Punters Package 11th February Novices’ Chase.

But he is particularly enthusiastic over the obstacles and pinched a considerable amount of ground away from Bouggler during the course of the race.

Bouggler was the only horse to offer a serious challenge, with the other runner Rackham Lerouge dropping away, and Wymott (8-13 favourite) had work to do to remove him from the equation turning for home.

Several accomplished leaps later he was safely past the line, ten lengths clear.

‘‘It was always going to be a frustrating one as we knew he would have to cut out the donkey work, but Jason said he was good when he put the gun to his head,’’ said McCain.

‘‘He has two options at Cheltenham but I would imagine he would go for the RSA.’’ The Cheshire stable’s 20-1 shot Pie At Midnight earlier won the Weddings In The Paddock Novices’ Handicap Hurdle despite taking a considerable step up in trip after some ordinary efforts.