Mick Channon happy to bide time with Cheltenham hero Mister Whitaker
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
Mick Channon is content to sit tight before deciding whether to give Cheltenham Festival winner Mister Whitaker another outing this season.
The six-year-old gained his third success of the season when he took his form to new heights in the Listed Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase.
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Plans for the Tim Radford-owned Mister Whitaker remain fluid, but the West Ilsley handler is keen not to jeopardise his handicap mark for next season.
Channon said: "Everybody was chuffed last week. We always thought he was a nice horse. Somersby gave us a taste of what it was like at Cheltenham, but it was nice to get a winner.
"He has got a lot of class and he is a very competitive little horse, but he only ever just does enough so he probably helps himself.
"I thought going up 8lb was a little harsh, but I suppose the little horse has improved all year and has done nothing wrong.
"He has got a couple of options. We could go for the two-and-a-half mile Grade One at Aintree or back to Cheltenham for the Grade Two there next month.
"If he was seven or eight I think we would kick on and have a go at the good horses, but he has got time on his side."
The trainer added: "If he was to run a good race in the Grade One at Aintree and finish second, third or fourth behind a good one you could easily be off a mark of 152 next season.
"If you leave him until next year he will get in all those big handicaps like the BetVictor (Cheltenham) off a competitive mark.
"I would say as a young horse I would possibly like to put him away, but it will be up to Tim and we will just keep our options open for the next couple of weeks."
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