Big Bucks faces 8 in The Lough Derg Long Walk Hurdle Grade 1

sp 1/6?

No way is he a 1/6 shot imo.  Not for this race anyway.

Agreed. 2/5 or 1/3 would be my guess

I've never felt like laying him before but if I was tempted this would be the one, CCM.

Dynaste could be alright, never run right-handed, Ascot an odd old track these days.  Just enough there to tickle the pink button (for peanuts, granted).  Certainly at 1/6 anyway!

2/7 with Paddy power and bet 365 atm.

Agree Headmaster, I've got this little niggle about Ascot (i.e. right handed) as well, especially given he jumped a few a little left handed at Newbury.

Presumably Celestial Halo won't run if BB does.

Couldnt agree more. Ascot would be my main reason for doing it too.

I also think they are going to go even lighter on him at this stage of the season as he gets older. They won't want to risk him being too fit, too early, and a defeat wont bother them as long as he is spot on for March.

might be 1/6 if Dynaste werent running.
He could be anything,and will keep BB at around 1/3 ish

CCM, a defeat would most certainly bother them mate! He has never been beaten over hurdles and they will want that to continue for as long as possible so he keeps his place in history. This is also a Grade 1. It is not like the Grade 2 he won at Newbury last time out.

I agree his main target is obviously Cheltenham, but there is plenty of time between now and then. Nicholls was able to get Kauto Star to peak at Xmas, and again in March, so I wouldn't want to lay BB on the assumption he wont be 100%, tbh.

Thhe right handed thing is a possible reason to get him beat though, and he did, unusually for him, jump to his left on occasions last time out.

If he's 100% he's got a stone in hand on OR and 18 lbs on RPR.

Will Dynaste roar off in front like last time at Haydock ?

Hard to know what tactics to employ against BB since everything's been tried and failed. BB has such a high cruising speed he could just sit off Dynaste's hind quarters if he does hare off, or he could chase him down in the last half mile. I know it was a poor race at Newbury, but the way BB cruised round the field at a hack canter while the rest were galloping was a pleasure to watch.

am i the only one who thinks 1/3 is value

Dont get me wrong Sint, I'm not saying they arent interested, or that he wont win. I just think that if he is ever to be beat, its more likely in a race like this than the festival.

i am a massive fan of dynaste and have backed him at 7/1. i reckon nicholls will take on dynaste early doors with celestial halo but i fully expect dynaste to burn him off and big bucks is very vulnerable around here imo as im sure the ground is going to get even heavier also DYNASTE  nap

Howdi.  I would much rather back him at Cheltenham in March going left-handed on better ground and I doubt he will shorter than 1/3.  Ascot right-handed on heavy ground with a horse who is going to try and force the pace, make it is a possible banana skin for me.  Remember Baracouda vs. Deano's Beano at Ascot a few years ago!

why ishe vulnerable around here?

the horse is unbeaten in 3 fookin years and do they think this fella is better than grand crus? he better be a stone better to beat big bucks, the horse is afreak, fair enough the horse might be worth taking on with an ew selection given hes never gone right handed but napping dynaste?

big bucks is twive the horse baracouda was!

the thing that bothers me with Dynaste is that he is going from a Handicap into a Grade 1. That is some leap. Even Grand Crus went from a handicap and then into a Grade 2 before taking on BB.

basically agree with the last two posters - if Grand Crus had not done what he did last year, nobody would be making a serious case for Dynaste - totally respect the Pipe yard and am sure they would n't let him take his chance unless they've seen real potential but it's a big enough leap of faith to have him beating some of the others let alone BB.

Somebody made a better case for Cross Kennon above but all underpinned by an assumption that BB won't be as effective going the other way around.

I strongly suspect Restless Harry will run a big race - looked to have improved in the West Yorkshire Hurdle and might enjoy himself when he gets there and discovers it's hurdles not fences!

Unlikely to have a bet in the race though.

BB isnt unbeatable but i hake my head in disbelief everytime someone comes to take his crown!!

usually along the lines of 'what has he beat?' 'his speed figures arent great', 'its such a weak division' etc etc.

absolutely mind blowing what u have to listen to and everytime he swats them away like pathetic wannabes, the horse SMASHED grand crus to pieces, absolutely laughed at him at aintree and yet they still have doubts!! truly astonishing!

going right handed is his only worrry purely on the basis that hes never done it b4, maybe hes even better goin RH, we dont actually know anything!


as i said 2/7 is just madness, yes he may deserve it but is a v cheap lay but please dont talk down the achievements of the horse, hes a machine and the best staying hurdler of all time!!

cheers.

You forget how good Baracouda was!  He had a run of twenty races where he was only beaten by Inglis Drever & Iris's Gift (both outstanding stayers) and Deano's Beano (a fluke).

Big Buck's might be vulnerable because as far as I can see he has never gone right-handed on a racetrack.  IHMO Ascot is inconsistent track for runner since the new stand work was done.

I would prefer to keep my power dry and back him at Cheltenham & Aintree where his price will probably be no shorter.

Dynaste has done what Grand Crus DIDNT do, namely sit near the front of a smart gallop and go away from them, i may lose but imo taking 6-1 is the same as laying the fav at the reverse odds here

a small rfc with Restless just in case

Sparky May looks the e/w bet to me at 25/1 or thereabouts.

Persoanlly wouldn't touch anything at long odds on around Ascot these days.

Sparky may has won at Ascot before and I felt Timmy Murphy didn't fully her to have a pop at Big Bucks last time at Newbury. I'll have a small bet on the off chance that theres' a right handed course **** in BB'S armour.

weakness perhaps

The Master just does enough!

and still wins eased by 8L

ridiculous performance in unsuitable conditions! greatest staying hurdler of all time imo!!

ul chaps. No disgrace in taking on a 1/3 shot though.

ul chaps. No disgrace in taking on a 1/3 shot though.

agreed, cheap lay! hes so good tho isnt he!

I think he's run his two best races in his last 3 races. Awesome animal.