Tuesday 27 October 2015 15:45, UK
Whisper is to have his chasing plans put on hold for at least another season after connections said the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury next month would be his likely starting point.
Although tried over fences at Exeter first time out last season, the seven-year-old was switched back to hurdles for the second half of the campaign, a move which resulted in him capturing the Grade One Silver Cross Stayers' Hurdle at Aintree for a second year running.
While a return to Aintree in April remains the long-term target for the Nicky Henderson-trained Whisper, he will begin by taking in the Grade One Long Distance Hurdle on November 28.
Owner Dai Walters said: "Whisper should go to Newbury for the three-mile hurdle (Long Distance Hurdle).
"We lost Oscar Whisky over fences last season and we thought with that we would keep Whisper over hurdles for another year, even though we have a lot of young ones coming through.
"If everything is right I hope he can go back to Aintree again in April but it is a long time away and anything can happen with horses."
