Send him on 6f out??

have to agree, strange ride, can't have been PN's instructions

WTF was he thinking .. all the other jocks let him hang himself there

Poor Sammy sh!t himself.

thats what happen when put a kid up shocking ride ruby will be shaking his head

hopeless

Way too early.

what was he doing on him ffs

To play devil's advocate - he has never jumped better.

Gaining lengths at each hurdle

trainers fault for putting that jockey up

At least he was man enough to take the ride.

jumped well, no flat spot either.

Came out as best horse, possibly wanted to run it like that

Had a 50 quid placepot goin onto Big Bucks:'(

Hard to understand.  Has he never looked at the way Big Bucks has raced before

I reckon Annie Power will definitely run in the World Hurdle now as she has little to beat based on the best horse in the race today being a 150 rated beast.

Went far too early. Nobody will tell me it didn't matter. Jockey tactically inept.

Also, if he'd hung on there would be countless threads on:

WTF were McCoy, Johnson and Geraghty doing out the back, letting him have his own way?

gave the horse the hardest race he had at the worst time

I was screaming at the little idiot when he hit the front and lit him up. He is a clown. The New One is testament to that.

hope you didnt lose too much steview

Personally i dont see much wrong with the ride, people are guessing that under a different ride he would had faired better.

sonko no one has ever ridden him like that,

think a fully fit bb holds on though

The trainers horses have finished poorly today, has he had a winner?  Had a monkey on Big Bucks finding it hard to blame the jockey was more nervous prerace about the stable after watching Vicenzo Mio and  Unionste plus Rocky hitting that hill didnt fill with confidence. this was a worry more than the jockey and I still feel that way.
Cant see how he would have won take it on the chin and move on

jock dont nowt wrong..was still certain winner going to last..pocket talkers

tbh i think sam has ridden to orders

Sonko, Big Bucks has idled in front quite a few times before but always had enough left in the tank to get back up and that's when being taken to the front 2-3furlongs out not a fully 6furlongs out on bottomless ground first run back for 14months. It was a shocking ride from a professional jockey.

I did not back the horse but feel sorry for those who did. If he was ridden properly and taken to the front after the 2nd last then he would have won the race no question about it. Shocking ride.

If he had hung on to the horse and waited it would have have won, no question!

I backed Big Bucks, and love the horse. He obviously wasn't the horse he was 2 years ago, and I'm not certain he would have won whatever, but Sam was wrong to send him on so far out. The pace was gruelling in such heavy ground, and his 3 main market rivals all sat 10 lengths out the back. I was surprised that he was as prominent as he was, but to send him for home so soon in those conditions was madness.

he took it up while cantering..wht u want jock to take a tug?

I find it shocking to believe that Sam was given orders to take up the running 6 furlongs out. What would the thinking be and why would they give these orders when hes been off for 14months and the ground was very testing?? Plus they have never used these tactics before with him??

you are still guessing, you dont know that he retains all his ability.

hindsight is a great thing,

if he'd held on to the horse and cruised round only to be outbattled on the run-in,

the same lot would be shouting why didn't he go on earlier

What a reception he will get when he wins the World Hurdle

roida 25 Jan 14 16:10
he took it up while cantering..wht u want jock to take a tug

Thats how its usually ridden

Well he went past the winner some way out and got caught again half way up the run in.  If my memory serves me right Ruby usually came quite late on Big Buck's at Cheltenham with one sustained run.  When he has gone to the front earlier it is at flat tracks like Aintree.

My initial view was to get on Annie Power for the Stayers which I have done.  It seems logical to me for Mullins to have Hurricane Fly - Champion, Quevaga - Mares & Annie Power - Stayers.  If either the Fly or Quevaga don't make it to the festival in good shape Annie Power will fill in. Hard to see her take on either when the Stayers is there for the taking.

Erm yes Roida, that exactly what he should have done. Or been ridden out the back with AFC, Reve and Boston Bob as they were his 3 main rivals. Let the other two go off and do the donkey work. Given a normal day he wouldn't have to worry about knockara beau and the instructions were not given on the basis of beating Knockara Beau so he should have been running with his 3 main market rivals, not helping tow them in to the race. Was quite a baffling ride. And for those saying i'm a pocket talker I backed At Fishers Cross actually. Nothing to do with Big Bucks financially.

walsh would have nursed at home at his pace,,,

He is a clown. The New One is testament to that.

What's the word i'm looking for...ah, yes. B*llocks.

That's not to say I think he gave BB a particularly good ride today, but it was comfortably beaten regardless.

but it was comfortably beaten regardless.

hope you laid plenty 1.25

Didn't have a bet on the race. hth.

Luckiest jockey of all time

Storm Alert

Well he went past the winner some way out

every horse in the race went past the winner some way out

Big Bucks took it up a long way from home when he won the World Hurdle in 2012

jock did nothing wrong.

No, If he got delivered late (How he has done every other race under Ruby) and couldn't get by then fair enough but it was a ridiculous ride. Agreed with Storm Alerts view on how Big Bucks is usually delivered.

The winner pinched 4 lengths at the start, probably meant the difference between winning and losing.

THERE IS ONLY ONE JOCKEY WHO CAN RIDE BBIS RUBY.

Aberdonia, 2012 world hurdle he took up the running from Mourad at 2 out that day. And what did he do? He idled and nearly got caught by Voler La Vedette. Why would you take up the running even sooner than that on heavy ground on his first run back from 14 months off after how he idled that day?

ive looked at other races where he has taken it up some way out. 



i cant see on that performance Big Bucks beating Annie Power, if the mare turns up.

well i hope you's slating the jock laid plenty 1.3 and similar...post your lays please

Not convinced they wanted it today.
Isn't the jockey on Venetia's horse your man's mate? Tactics must have been decided before the race, I would think.

Idiot gonzo. He is a liability. To racing what Joe Hart is to goalkeeping. OVERRATED!

To all the critics of STD. Do you really think he rode BB that way off his own initiative ? Of course not.
He rode to orders !!

I've just re-watched the 2012 race and the ride today was very similar actually, Big Buck's was sightly further back racing on the inside in midfield for the first 2 miles but hit the front at the same stage.

The real question is what do we take from the race?  My reading is that was a 150 performance and and he will need to improve to beat the also runs and if something decent turns up like Annie Power  then it it will need a huge turnaround.  Can't see it myself.

It was today's conditions and coming back from a lay off that makes his move early so crackers IMO Storm.

If Annie Power turns up on the day i will be emptying my bank account.

They were all fit horses today....was BB fit, yes to a point, but you would have to think that race will bring him on a ton,
if thats the case then then he will be hard to beat

Agreed Koi.

the two that have beat him he was giving weight and fitness too, paul nicholls said they wouldnt run him on testing ground, i think it was pretty testing today. pn has said hes got harder to get fit at home the older he's go, that said i think ruby possibly wins on him it just shows how crucial he is to these big horses.

when off for 14 months.

idiot

No he's not.

The reason for running him like that should be obvious.

If not at first apparent to the punter.

I backed big bucks and thought STD had gone to soon but PN interview he rode to orders, my opinion of PN has gone down. It would be like SHC saying he told Queally to to be 15 lengths clear when he got to the dip in the 2000 Guineas, I think jockeys hope a top class horse always get them out of trouble, Frankel did it a good few times for Tom but any other day BB would of done it for STD but 14 months off in heavy was just asking far too much today!

Only postive is I will take the 5/2 for world hurdle if PN confirms BB has come out the race sound and well tomorrow.

the question for me is?did sam ride the the horse to instructions?at 4f out i could not believe what was unfolding.did they over think the tactics?or did sam get a rush of blood to the head and paniced?bb has always been held up.why change?

but PN interview he rode to orders,

What I wrote earlier - there you go.

It doesn't take much working out if he admitted it.

Anyone writing the horse off and taking the form literally on the back of that needs their heads read I'd say.

Traveled and jumped like the class act he is and got tired towards the end as he was entitled to do after the absence.

I'm surprised they rode him quite as aggressively as that and I agree with those who say Walsh would have won on him. There's just no substitute for knowing the horse as well as he does.

is anyone considering a possible bounce factor for big bucks!

they usually bounce if they run again relatively quickly after a lay-off,

the festival is nearly 2 months away !

He finished 3RD to 2 sub standard horses, he raced as he normally does and looked likely to win from 2 out.

Cant see how anyone can be confident that he is the horse he once was and he certainly has no chance of beating Annie
Power on that performance imo.

If Hurricane Fly had came 3rd on his last run you can just imagine what would have been said.

o.k weve heard all the pros and cons the  question now is  would you be a backer or layer of  big bucks for the  world hurdle ?

BB is finished, sam done nothing wrong BB was beaten fair and square. Prices quoted for chelt are ridiculous. Just glad DJ was not riding him and get flamed., Understand, ruby never won them races, the horse did. When are you jockey worshippers going to understand the principle that the jockey sits on the horse and guides him round he cannot make them better than they are.And just to say ruby knew, Kauto finished, Masterminded finished,Denman finished, Big Bucks finished etc, surprise surprise i`m off lol

They obviously wanted a proper race to bring him on. Only one race that matters for him and it wasn't today

He finished 3RD to 2 sub standard horses, he raced as he normally does and looked likely to win from 2 out.

Cant see how anyone can be confident that he is the horse he once was and he certainly has no chance of beating Annie
Power on that performance imo.

If Hurricane Fly had came 3rd on his last run you can just imagine what would have been said.

Hurricane Fly wasn't returning from a serious injury and over a year out.

Annie Power hasn't gone further than 2 and a half miles and has only ever beaten a double figure sized field over hurdlers in a maiden. The World Hurdle will be a whole different ball game and that's even if they turn up with her.

As you've said yourself Big Bucks looked the likely winner until 2 out today and in fact until after the last. By the same degree I'm not too sure how anyone can be confident he's not the horse he was because he got tired after the last.

Dont disagree with any of that, bar Big Bucks needing the run.  This is 2013, not 1978.

I will say that if Annie Power if she does turn up i will be on her.

If your on Big Bucks, we will see....

I actually think Annie Power is capable of winning the CH so hope she goes there.

2014, even. 

Only it's 2nd run on the turf in 14 months and you think it didn't need the run!!! With the tactics today after 14 months off and only one gallop before today's race, amazed it finish 3rd, held up to the last hurdle might off won. Badcrookes know only 5/4 for the festival, come on Paul say its ok i want that 5/2!!!!!!!!

STD took it up 3 out.

Not 6 out.

Knockara Beau is a 150 horse and therefore Big Buck's about 25lb below his best. Admittedly he wouldn't need to run to his best to win the World Hurdle again this year but he will need to improve at least 10lb.  At 11 years old he ain't improving physically so it will need to be fitness/stroke better going.  It is possible and Paddys 3/1 seems reasonable.  Annie Power / Celestial Halo would be huge threats if they run.

Just to add his previous 2 runs at Aintree and Cheltenham he took it up 3 out.

Actually it seems that STD rode Big Bucks to orders.

I would lay Annie power don't win a race at the festival.

Lady Carla

ask betfair to set up the market and put up your lay.

ok will email them now.

i will have some 4/1 please.

STD took it up 3 out.

Not 6 out.

he sayed 6 furlongs out innit

Does the f not stand for fences innit

Joined: 18 Oct 08 | Topic/replies: 8,537 | Blogger: aberdonia's blog
i will have some 4/1 please


4/1???? You Annie fans are certain it will win, the only thing you've got to sort out is the distance You can have 1/1 has it's a cert.

we'll call it a draw,

in OP's favour

Is there any truth in the rumour that Knockara Beau was once trained by Barney Curley?

no shame in that, it`s the taking part that counts.

just thought,

price is always relevant in how people form opinions,

all those that say Big Bucks is finnish,

if his price was 5/1 for the world hurdle, they'd all be saying he's a great bet

Those who look a gift horse in the mouth get no sympathy.

ladycarla 25 Jan 14 18:38 Joined: 03 Sep 06 | Topic/replies: 848 | Blogger: ladycarla's blog
Joined: 18 Oct 08 | Topic/replies: 8,537 | Blogger: aberdonia's blog
i will have some 4/1 please


4/1???? You Annie fans are certain it will win, the only thing you've got to sort out is the distanceExcitedExcitedExcitedExcitedExcited You can have 1/1 has it's a cert.


Lady Carla,  your not a Ladbrokes odds compiler, by any chance?

ok 2/1

I love Big Buck's, but if Annie Power turns up in the WH, he'll have to be back to his very best.

I don't actually think Sam-TD wanted to take it up when he did but the other horse that had been leading him fell away earlier than he would have expected and then what else was he supposed to do?

Be at the back and look how the race unfolds when your on the best horse in the race.

Read some rubbish from jockey apologists but step forward Stuart Riley who in today's Racing Post has comfortably elevated himself to the top of the pile. He tries to justify the ride by comparing the similarity between this ride and Ruby Walsh landing his fourth World Hurdle. Amazingly he is making a straight comparison between a horse in his pomp to one returning after a long absence in very testing conditions. He states 'to criticise the jockey would be ridiculous'. I wonder how many jockeys Stuart has criticised in his capacity as Racing Post reporter? I have a feeling it might be in the region of zero.

koikeeper spot on imo.  as soon as std kicked for home a mile out i knew straight away would be difficult for bb to win. surley std has watched recording of bb wins in the past. as far as i can remember hes never been ridden as forcefully as this and from my limited experience of racehorses, horses coming back from a tendon injury scare would want an easy race first time back and bb was given a hard race due to forcing the issue a mile from home.