Can Big Buck's come back strongly?
Quevega, the 4-time Cheltenham Festival winner, has been installed as new favourite for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, after Big Buck's was ruled out for rest of the season because of tendon injury.
Big Buck's, who has four World Hurdle titles to his name, was enjoying the best odds, before the shocking news of his exit jolted the entire racing world a few days ago.
According to the connections, the 9-year-old will take 3-4 months to recover. The Paul Nicholls-trained has 18 successive wins to his credit, and it will be tough for him to stretch his winning run after coming back from injury.
His wonderful record suggests that he will return strongly. The skilful horse enjoyed mixed fortune until November 2008, winning only five of his first 20 races. Things started to work in his favour at the start of 2009, when he recorded three consecutive
wins at Cheltenham, including a couple of graded ones.
After showing his class at Cheltenham, he went to Aintree, and did the damage in good style. He won a couple of graded meetings at Newbury in winter 2009.
The Stewart Family-owned recorded four victories in 2010, and another four the following year. He continued his brilliant work in 2012. After bagging the big prize twice at Cheltenham, the son of Cadoudal dominated the proceedings at Aintree, where he beat
Crack Away Jack by nine lengths in the Grade 1, BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle.
His latest success hit the headlines at the start of this month, when he crushed the rivals in the Grade 2, Sportingbet Long Distance Hurdle. Bred by Henri Poulat, the bay and brown gelding has proved himself as one of the best hurdlers.
His connections are hoping for his quick comeback. Andy Stewart, who owns Big Buck's, said a few days ago: "It's a tiny tear, very small. It will only get better with nature, there is no cure. Talking to Paul we'll put a line through the season.”
"We think he'll be out for three to four months and that will take us past the World Hurdle. Then bringing him back for Aintree is something we wouldn't consider."
Speaking to At The Races, Stewart added: "I'm very gutted, very disappointed, but, as they say, it's a small earthquake - no-one's died."
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