Big Buck’s To Stick To Hurdles

Big Buck's to stay over hurdles

Owner Andy Stewart claims it’s ‘highly unlikely’ his unbeaten hurdler Big Buck’s is ever going to go chasing again.

The eight-year-old has won ten straight contests over timber and attempts his third Ladbrokes World Hurdle in the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The Cadoudal gelding was acquired to go chasing but trainer Paul Nicholls executed a masterstroke when reverting to the scaled-down obstacles following the horse unseating Sam Thomas in the 2008 Hennessy Gold Cup.

Often connected with going back to fences and considered the natural heir to stablemates Kauto Star and Denman in distance chases, Big Buck’s appears set to be granted the opportunity to rule the long-distance timber department for many years to come.

Stewart told sportinglife.com: “I think it will be highly unlikely that while he’s at the top of his game as far as hurdling is concerned you’ll see him over fences.

“We’re going to try and keep on winning the Ladbrokes World Hurdle and it’s highly unlikely you’ll see him chasing next year.

“I would say it would be 50-50 for him never to jump a fence again. There’s only so many races in a horse and we’re going to keep it down to four a season.

“As long as everything goes well we’ll go to Cheltenham, we’ll go to Liverpool and we’ll start again next year at Newbury on Hennessy day.”

Big Buck’s is 4/7 with the sponsors to accomplish a hat-trick in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle in March.

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