Big Buck’s pepping for another big one under the guidance of trainer, Paul Nicholls
Trainer, Paul Nicholls, is enjoying perhaps his second best chaser, Big Buck’s, after celebrating a lifetime with the retired legend, Kauto Star. Just as his prior charge never failed him and was always up to the expectations, the nine-year-old bay/brown gelding is keeping alive the tradition of the stable. Unbeaten since the last three seasons, Big Buck’s gave his connections the glimpse of what he was still capable of. His workout at Exeter was a replica of what he has already accomplished.
The gelding joined teams with the star jockey of the stable and his regular rider, Ruby Walsh. Accompanying him for the workout was the stable mate, Cedre Bleu, who was paired up with jockey, Daryl Jacob. Their trip was about two miles, and the class of the French gelding eluded even before the race.
Even when it was his stable mate taking and maintaining the lead, the mount of Ruby Walsh, had the confidence of nailing the race only champions can have. The jockey rested on the mount, not really urging Big Buck’s to speed up or over ride the stable mate.
When coming out of the back straight, the race pulled up the pace and tempo with jockey, Daryl Jacob getting more rigorous on his ride. As if ticked that it was just the time to make the move, Ruby Walsh’s ride got his head in the front and cruised through the final furlong effortlessly.
It was just the style in which he has remained at the top for the last three unscratched seasons.
Nicholls told Racing UK: "It was just what he did last year, it was a nice day out for him, and doing something different will have done him the world of good. It will just help him, he'll lose a few kilos and sharpen up mentally. He did exactly the same a year ago today and it doesn't do them any harm.
"The other horse would be a little bit behind Big Buck's (fitness-wise) and he'd be a bit behind him in the ratings, too. Whatever Big Buck's works with he just cruises along and does it nicely. It was perfect."
It is always relatively easy for new talent and competition to make their mark, but to keep the age group of Big Buck's all set and prepared for challenges at such level year after year it the actual test of the trainer.
The reappearing options for Cadoudal’s gelding are either Newbury with the Long Distance Hurdle or at Haydock in the Betfair Don’t Settle For Less ‘Fixed Brush’ Handicap Hurdle.
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