Big Buck’s closes in on Sir Ken record

If he wins a fourth successive Ladbrokes World Hurdle in March, he will equal the record 16 successive victories that Sir Ken set in the 1950s. This Paul Nicholls-trained star is that close to greatness.

Yet a special chapter should be reserved for Tom Scudamore. His win in the 2008 Hennessy – Big Buck’s was a last fence casualty – forced Nicholls to send this equine machine back over hurdles, and he’s not been beaten since.

However, Scudamore’s rides on Lough Derg and current Gold Cup prospect Grands Crus, have, in many respects, bought the best out of Big Buck’s – and it was the same on Saturday when he powered clear on David Pipe’s progressive grey Dynaste.

For a moment, a shock result appeared likely – before Walsh brought his mount level at the final flight before pulling clear by seven lengths with almost effortless ease.

Walsh, who had picked up a three-day ban when disqualified in the opener, says he was never worried. “Stayers shouldn’t win on the bridle, that’s why they’re stayers. I didn’t need to pick my stick up, there was no need,” he explained.

Nicholls, who decided that a competitive race would better suit Big Buck’s rather than a racecourse gallop prior to the World Hurdle, concurred. “He switches off in his races. Ruby said he was going to play it late. It’s quite a lot of pressure running him,” he said.

“I said to (owner) Andy (Stewart) I wanted to run him and he wasn’t sure. If we lost I was the one who was going to get shot. He’s such a class horse, he gets to the last, pricks his ears and goes.”

At least Scudamore had the consolation of winning the Murphy Group Chase on David Bridgwater’s The Giant Bolster by a wide margin 17 lengths.

Fifth in last year’s Gold Cup, Neil Mulholland’s Midnight Chase will have another crack at steeplechasing’s blue riband contest after winning the Argento Chase under former Malton jockey Dougie Costello.

The relentless frontrunner pulled clear of the veteran Tidal Bay in a race that saw Richard Johnson pull up Captain Chris, one of last season’s champion novices. He must now be a major doubt for Cheltenham.