Big Buck’s against seven rivals in his forte, Sportingbet Long Distance Hurdle
For trainer, Paul Nicholls, with the retirement of the star of his stable, Kauto Star, came to an end an era that he without any doubt enjoyed the most. However, the glitz that the champion steeplechaser brought to the pride of the connections can also be seen in the shine of the fine work that the stable mate, Big Buck’s, has been up to since a while now. He is unbeaten in his last seventeen outings and it is the record that sets him neatly in a league of his own.
Ever since 2008, when Cadoudal’s bay/brown gelding made a successful return to the hurdles, the Sportingbet Long Distance Hurdle remains to be the penetrating race for each season.
The Paul Nicholls’ trained does not only kick start the season with the long distance race, rather has been winning it since the last four editions. The Newbury race will see him confronting seven more rivals on Saturday.
A surprising element in the line-up this year is the entry of his stable mate, Five Dream. The eight-year-old bay gelding hardly possesses what it will take to bring down the brilliant hurdler for whom the race is his forte.
However, Take Risks’ French bay gelding gets conditioned by the same trainer, and he would have had something in his mind if he selected the long distance hurdle for the under charge.
He finished fourth in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle (Series Qualifier) on 14th November, 2012 at Exeter race course over two miles and 7 ½ furlongs.
Racing through the twelve hurdles before any of the other contenders in the line-up was, Stars Du Granits.
Trainer, Alan King, has added the five-year-old grey gelding, Smad Place, to the line-up.
Last time that he won was in the Grade 2 Bet Mobile At betvictor.com Holloway’s Hurdle on 21st January, 2012 at Ascot race course over two miles and 3 ½ furlongs. He defeated Shoreacres by seven lengths with Wayne Hutchinson onboard.
He was the favourite entry of the Grade 2 John Smith’s Hurdle on 3rd November, 2012 at Wetherby race course over three miles and a furlong. He finished third as the race was won by the Paul Nicholls entry, Tidal Bay.
Crack Away Jack, Reve De Sivola, Fox Appeal, Maggio and Possol complete the list of participants.
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