RACEGOERS are to get an extra chance to see the growing legend that is Big Buck's after trainer Paul Nicholls and owner Andy Stewart decided on Thursday night to let the sport's supreme staying hurdler bid for his 15th consecutive victory at Cheltenham next month.
In a change to the schedule announced following the success of Big Buck's in the Long Walk Hurdle last Saturday, the outstanding eight-year-old will now be given an extra Cheltenham Festival prep race in the Cleeve Hurdle on January 28.
The Grade 2 contest is staged over the samecourse and distance as the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, which Big Buck's will be seeking to win for an unprecedented fourth time in March.
Explaining the change of plan, Stewart said: "We want Big Buck's to be at his very best in the World Hurdle and for that to happen we feel it would be beneficial to give him another run beforehand.
"I've been going back and forth all day with Pauland Clifford Baker and we have decided to do a u-turn on the original plan. Paul says the horse is now so difficult to get fit that it would be hard to let him down and bring him back to a peak for the festival.
"So we'll have a bash at the Cleeve and we'll run Celestial Halo as well. Big Buck' s will have to concede an 8lb penalty but he did that at Newbury in November so it hopefully won't be a problem."
Better to be going for the record equalling 16th win in the World Hurdle and achieve it at the festival. Taking into account that the Cleeve is a foregone conclusion.
Better to be going for the record equalling 16th win in the World Hurdle and achieve it at the festival. Taking into account that the Cleeve is a foregone conclusion.
then finally throw off the Emperors New Clothes and get on with the proper job
jumping fences against the best around
Cleeve, World, Aintree = break the recordthen finally throw off the Emperors New Clothes and get on with the proper jobjumping fences against the best around
He's already tried chasing. He wasn't very good at it. I don't see why he'd ever jump a fence in public again. More chance of having a pop at the Ascot Gold Cup imo.
He's already tried chasing. He wasn't very good at it. I don't see why he'd ever jump a fence in public again. More chance of having a pop at the Ascot Gold Cup imo.
yes failed chaser that won a Grade 2 Novices chase at Aintree as a 5 yo beating a multi Grade 1 winner and won 3 out of 7 starts over fences - hardly a failure!
now "fully mature" according to his jockey, bred to be a chaser , looks like a chaser and is trained by one of the best trainers of a chaser and ridden by one of the best steeplechase jockeys ever
if Paul Nicholls couldn't get this horse to win good races over fences then he might as well give up. FFS both Denman and Kauto failed to complete on more than one occassion. Just coz he unseated wh
yes you are a no brainer aren't you? Most of what you say is derivative regurgitated garbage that you read somewhere that you think sounds right. Ever actually had an original thought? Not old enough yet to start thinking for yourself?
yes failed chaser that won a Grade 2 Novices chase at Aintree as a 5 yo beating a multi Grade 1 winner and won 3 out of 7 starts over fences - hardly a failure!now "fully mature" according to his jockey, bred to be a chaser , looks like a chaser and
Coming from a person that gets all his info from a book!!
You have a go when people insult you,and then spout off like a spoiled brat.Cant be botherd to react to your last comments except to say the regurgitated garbage bit is more suited to a lot of your posts!!
Nicholls says the horse hates jumping,if thats true which i would think it is,why send him chasing?he aint going to perform if he hates it!! whats the matter with you??
Coming from a person that gets all his info from a book!!You have a go when people insult you,and then spout off like a spoiled brat.Cant be botherd to react to your last comments except to say the regurgitated garbage bit is more suited to a lot of