Big Buck’s kept ticking over ready for historic fourth victory tilt at festival

A 3.0pm check will be held at Wincanton today to determine tomorrow’s prospects – temperatures are forecast to dip to minus 6C.

The chilly forecast means the all-weather fixtures at Wolverhamnpton, scheduled for tomorrow and Friday, have been moved to afternoon slots from their original twilight positions. The track will also hold an extra meeting on Saturday.

Ffos Las officials are taking no chances ahead of Saturday’s Welsh Champion Hurdle when Nicky Henderson’s Oscar Whisky, who is likely to take on Big Buck’s in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham, is the headline act. “We are hopeful looking at the forecast,” said the clerk of the course, Tim Long.

“We’ve got three nights of frost ahead of us, but they are not forecast to be drastic ones.

“We are protecting the whole track with a heavy duty fleece and certain parts are already down.”

The Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot has been renamed the Diamond Jubilee Stakes to mark this important milestone in The Queen’s reign.

The Group One race over six furlongs takes place on Saturday, June 23, and is regarded as one of the world’s most prestigous sprints.

It was known as the Cork And Orrery Stakes until 2002 when it was called the Golden Jubilee Stakes to celebrate Her Majesty’s 50th anniversary on the throne.