Big Buck’s well on his way for setting alight the 2012 campaign by landing the Long Distance Hurdle
Andy Stewart, Big Buck’s owner found it hard to contain his excitement:
"We're looking forward to it. Ruby (Walsh) tells me he's never been better and Paul (Nicholls) tells me he's never been better, so there'll be no excuses," he said.
"The ground will be heavy and horrible after a couple of nights of frost, but we'll have to live with that. I don't know if there'll be much pace on, either, but I'd imagine Five Dream might go a good pace
for the first two miles.”
"As long as he doesn't fluff his lines on Saturday he'll be going back to Ascot for the Long Walk."
Now when the days have been grounded down to hours, the connections of the brilliant steeplechaser just cannot sit back. Their under charge is just about to set sail for his 2012 campaign and has won the Long
Distance Hurdle for the last three years, always cracking open the season with it.
Winning the spectacle today will give him the 18th straight success. Winning those many honours is completely a league of his own and in that respect sets him apart from his stable mate, Kauto Star,
who is no less than a legend.
Trainer Paul Nicholls had the best time training and grooming Kauto Star, but his black beauty, Big Buck’s, is not lesser a pleasure to have around.
The last race that the Stewart Family’s owned lost was the Grade 3 Hennessy Gold Cup back in 2008. Big Buck’s unseated the rider, Sam Thomas quite badly after blundering the final flight.
The race proved to be the last defeat that he incurred to date.
He did not race for the remaining 2008 season and when he did participate in the next campaign, he was a true joy for the connections.
Ever since then he has been paired up with jockey, Ruby Walsh, but the nine-year-old has also raced in the highly capable hands of rider, A. P. McCoy.
The unbeaten in four seasons can easily be compared to the unbeaten flat racing champion, Frankel. With his retirement and Kauto Star well on for his stud duty too, the racing industry has opened up horizons
and avenues for the mighty Big Buck’s to conquer and rule.
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