Big Bucks missed out on the opportunity to make it five consecutive wins in the World Hurdle last year as an injury ruled him out of the championship race at the Cheltenham Festival.
Paul Nicholls’ runner had dominated
the three mile hurdle division up until his setback, in which he was
able to record 18 straight victories.
A change back to hurdles was made after
the horse unseated Sam Thomas in the 2008 Hennessy Gold Cup. It
proved to be one of Nicholls’ best decisions of his training career
so far as it allowed the horse to shine.
Big Bucks’ first victory in the World
Hurdle arrived in 2009 where he defeated Punchestowns for the crown.
In
2010 it was Time For Rupert who offered him a stern test in which
he passed by defending his title for his second win.
Further successes arrived in 2011 and
2012 which helped the horse enter the record books and set him up for
a fifth consecutive success in 2013.
His campaign started well ahead of the
2012/2013 season as he won the Long Distance Hurdle once again at
Newbury. However, it was after that win that it was announced the
horse would miss the remainder of the campaign. That put him out of
the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham and the World Hurdle at the same
track later in the year.
Big Bucks’ anticipated return arrived
in the 2014 Cleeve Hurdle at Prestbury Park where he was expected to
make a winning comeback as he was odds-on to do so. However, the
11-year old could only manage third behind 66/1 shock winner Knockara
Beau and At Fishers Cross. It was the first time Sam Twiston-Davies
was on board the horse in public after he was announced by the owners
as the man who will continue to ride him now that Ruby Walsh was no
longer retained by Nicholls.
After winning the Albert Bartlett
Novices’ Hurdle at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival, At Fishers Cross
appeared to be the biggest threat to Big Bucks’ crown in the 3m
hurdle division, but he has yet to score so far this season in three
starts.
The Nicky Henderson runner was fourth
when going off the odds-on favourite in the Long Distance Hurdle in
November at Newbury, providing
a bit of an upset to any bet and watch punters taking a chance on
him.
At Fishers Cross then disappointed
again at Ascot as he unseated Champion Jockey Tony McCoy during the
Long Walk which was won by Reve De Sivola.
His latest effort ahead of Big Buck’s
was more encouraging though, and forced bookmakers to cut his price
ahead of the World Hurdle next month.
Last year’s winner Solwhit will be
unable to return to defend his crown as he has been ruled out for the
rest of the season through injury. Ireland’s best chance of winning
the race once again according the betting is Rule The World.
The Gigginstown-Stud owned horse was
second at the Festival 12 months ago in the Neptune Investment
Management Novices’ Hurdle. A step up in trip is expected to suit
the seven-year old who is prominent in the market.