THAT was a wonderful weekend of racing. Big Buck’s, The Giant Bolster, Hurricane Fly, Our Conor, Harry Topper, Annacotty, Valdez, Red Sherlock, Trifolium. What was not to like? Despite his first reverse in 19 races, the returning Big Buck’s divided opinion among pundits and bookies. The criticism of Sam Twiston Davies was predictable although the …[Read More]
24
Jan 2014
The return of Big Buck’s
PAUL Nicholls is enjoying a marvellous season but if Big Buck’s makes a winning reappearance in the Cleeve Hurdle during Cheltenham Trials Day on Saturday then it will go down as one of his finest – if not THE finest – training performance of his career. Despite his long absence, Big Buck’s is odds-on, which …[Read More]
13
Mar 2013
Cheltenham Festival 2013: Day Three Preview
I’VE RARELY enjoyed a day’s racing as much as day two of the Cheltenham Festival. The spectacle of Sprinter Sacre’s demolition of Sizing Europe; the brilliant turn of foot of The New One and the desperate hard luck stories of Boston Bob and Tofino Bay. Allied to that was backing a 33/1 winner in the …[Read More]
08
Mar 2013
Cheltenham Festival preview: World Hurdle and Gold Cup
by Jack Milner, of BetVictor. THE Ladbroke World Hurdle offers a different question this year through the absence of the all-conquering Big Buck’s, who has won the last four renewals. The previous question revolved around: “How do we get Big Buck’s beaten?” Instead it’s “Who is good enough to win?” He really did set the …[Read More]
01
Mar 2013
Ante Post Focus: Smad about the boy
YOU could be forgiven for scratching your head at some of the horses left in the Ladbroke World Hurdle. Seasoned chasers like Grand Crus, novices such as Back In Focus and unexposed types like Whispering Gallery are among the 33 entries. It’s all because of the enforced absence of the beast that is Big Buck’s. …[Read More]
