Whisper owner Dai Walters is expecting his charge to have his final run of the season at Aintree in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase.
The nine-year-old has enjoyed a remarkable return to form having seemingly lost his way following back-to-back victories in the Liverpool Hurdle in 2014 and 2015 at the Grand National meeting.
The French import was unbeaten heading into the Cheltenham Festival and came within a whisker of winning the RSA Chase, a photo finish denying him first place after a thrilling battle with Might Bite up the Prestbury Park hill.
Whsiper emerged from the contest unscathed and appears set to return to Aintree in the hope of more glory.
Walters said: “I thought he had it won when Might Bite stopped and I even thought he’d won in the photo, but there you go. He owes us nothing – what a race he ran.
“Nicky is away at the moment so we haven’t really spoken, but I’d imagine he’ll be going to Aintree. He hasn’t had many runs and he likes it there.”
Beyond this season, Walters says he is unsure which direction Whisper will head in, admitting connections have thought about a Gold Cup challenge.
“Whether he’s a King George horse I don’t know, some people have said he could be one for the Gold Cup,” he added.
