Big Buck's Won His Second World Hurdle
Owner Andy Stewart was almost overcome with emotion as his Big Buck's FR won his second Ladbroke's
World Hurdle with Ruby Walsh riding. Getty Images
France was proud of Binocular FR when he won The Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle (Grade 1), 3m on the New Course, but lamented the losses of their country's champions Long Run, Master Minded and the great two-time Gold Cup winner Kauto Star.
The magnificent looking Big Buck's FR (Cadoudal FR), who was bred in at the Haras de Gouffren et Rabodanges, Orne in Normandy, by Henry Poulet, was never in danger of losing the Ladbrokes World Hurdle (Grade 1) for the second year.
Only game Time For Rupert IRE (Flemensfirth USA) was able to follow him and lost by 3 1/4 lengths.
Big Buck's ran at a nice pace with the leaders, jumped perfectly and demolished the field with little effort when asked by jockey Ruby Walsh to canter home.
He became the fourth horse in history to win the World Hurdle twice consecutively. The others were Galmoy, Baracouda FR and Inglis Drever.
The Stewart Family who owns Big Buck's were popular winners and they were all there to welcome him into the history books.
Jockey Walsh also entered the history books when he broke the Cheltenham Course record of jockey victories with his 27th on Big Buck's and received his percentage of the $148,226 winnings.
Paul Nicholls, trainer of Big Buck's, said he was the one horse he was sure of winning at Cheltenham.
Perhaps the punters and media should have listened more closely to Nicholls pre-race comments about his charges.
This Meet produced few winning favourites except for BB.
Speculation is rampant that he may be sent chasing in 2011 to become the next Kauto Star.
That leaves Nicholls fans with two controversies. Should BB be sent chasing and should Denman run in the Grand National next year as his owner Harry Findlay wants?
None of Nicholls' Cheltenham horses has any more dates this season.
Racing International http://www.racngint.com
Posted by susan trevelyan-syke at 3/21/2010 8:20 PM 
Categories: Cheltenham Festival 2010
Tags: Paul Nicholls Cheltenham Racecourse Ruby Walsh Racing International Time For Rupert Big Buck's Cheltenham Festival Andy Steward World Hurdle
Categories: Cheltenham Festival 2010
Tags: Paul Nicholls Cheltenham Racecourse Ruby Walsh Racing International Time For Rupert Big Buck's Cheltenham Festival Andy Steward World Hurdle
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