Big Bucks Handicap Rating

Thought they might have dropped him.  Beat a 154 rated mare and a 5yo and his form from earlier this season looks very weak after the performances of Dynaste and Five Dream.

I'm suprised too, since the handicapper generally raises horses for winning any old race no matter what.

It's all academic anyhow...he's NEVER gonna run in a handicap hurdle!

Top-rank staying hurdlers do not even have the option, though I do recall Baracouda giving two stone all round at Sandown when he was already at the top of the tree - I'm assuming a traditional prep race may have been abandoned that season.

Nevertheless...it's probably right that he's remained on the same 174 for an eternity, as however admirable & durable he has been, I don't think anyone could really suggest he's improving.

of course its academic

just interesting

Sack a 5th Stayers Hurdle off and go for the Pertemps imo

Impossible to rate imo. He never reaches his limit, just does enough, idles in front. Any official mark is going to be something of a guess - he could be anything from about 167 to 180+.

be a shame if we never to know just quite how good he is imo

I agree Howdi - but that's down to the quality of the opposition. He can only beat what shows up and he always does.

Should be adventurous and send him to the french champion hurdle

It would seem to be his for the taking - much easier to win than the World Hurdle (although he might want a pacemaker to avoid the usual crawl-crawl-crawl-sprint).

His gutless owner should send him chasing,no one gives two hoots about staying hurdlers.hth

agree clevername. Now that Denman and Kauto gone, time to go for the Gold Cup with Bucks!

Every right to rank one of the best staying hurdlers ever and nothing more to prove unless they drop him to 2m

He's been chasing and he wasn't especially good at it. Why go again, at the age of 9, when he dominates the staying hurdle division and has a great chance of a Festival 5-timer next year? Hurdling is not chasing.

maybe strontium, but Bucks is an all time great win or lose in the World Hurdle next year.
Whilst still relatively in his prime, only 10 next year, give him a chance for immortality in a Gold Cup?

He nearly beat Madison Du Berlais giving 3lbs in the 2008 Hennessy, who thrashed Denman in Feb one month before that one finished 2nd in a Gold Cup to Kauto in 2009.

Bucks is arguably already close to Gold Cup standard, and if he can somehow sharpen up his fencing, he could walk away with a Gold Cup.

Remember, he was often described as a quirky horse in his younger days, but looks a lot more mature now, so easy to place in a race. He may be more amenable in his older age and a better student too!

It has occurred to me that he may be better at learning/schooling now. However he was so awkward at his fences I'd be amazed if he could jump well enough to win a Gold Cup, especially at his age (which would be old to win a GC by modern standards). He was also about a stone short of GC standard when he was chasing before.

I agree with you he's an all time great. It's also a shame he didn't make a chaser, but top hurdlers frequently don't and BB takes his hurdles as well as almost any horse I've seen. The race I'd really like to see him in is the Ascot Gold Cup.

agree that his jumping of fences left a lot to be desired, strontium.
Just think Nicholls should try some more schooling now and see how he is 4 years after he last tried (that long ago!). Is there any doubt that his hurdling has improved in that time as well?
Maybe put him in something like the Betfair Chase at haydock, the King George or the Aon Chase at Chelt end of Jan if he has taken to it, and onto the big one if his jumping has stood the test.
Otherwise a 5th crack at the World Hurdle.

Tell Andy Stewart I reckon he's too smart - he fiddled his fences before and I think he would again, but I take your point.

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