Big Buck's win upstaged by old-timer Mister McGoldrick

BIG Buck's cemented his position as the top staying hurdler in the business by landing back-to-back victories in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

Paul Nicholls's charge became the first of this week's four Festival 'bankers' to triumph following the shock defeat of Dunguib in the Supreme Hurdle and Master Minded's lacklustre defence of his Champion Chase crown.

It probably eases the pressure on Nicholls, and jockey Ruby Walsh, ahead of Kauto Star's date with destiny in today's Gold Cup.

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Walsh, the Festival's most successful jockey, had a leisurely look around for danger turning into the straight on Big Buck's but creditable challengers were non existent.

After a scrappy jump at the last, Big Buck's was pushed out with hands and heels for a three-and-a-quarter-length win – with Malcolm Jefferson's Cape Tribulation unplaced.

Walsh said: "He's a special horse. He's got a terrific engine and that was a good round of jumping, he jumped better (yesterday) than he ever has done."

In many respects, the performance of the day was the fourth place finish in the Byrne Group Plate by Bingley trainer Sue Smith's ageless veteran Mister McGoldrick, a 33-1 outsider.

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The winner of the corresponding race two years ago, this most popular of horses jumped for fun, led coming down the Cheltenham hill – and showed his trademark tenacity by rewarding each-way punters.

"He just seems to love it here and he jumps so well. He's unbelievable," said Smith.

In all likelihood, this was probably Mister McGoldrick's sixth and final Festival appearance. Third in the 2006 Champion Chase at 50-1, Channel Four commentator Simon Holt summed up the public's affections for the 13-year-old by saying "Hats off to him" as he crossed the line in heroic-style.

Named by owner Richard Longley after Leeds heart surgeon Joe McGoldrick, and the oldest horse in the race, he did not have the stamina to live with his younger rivals, headed by the six-year-old Great Endeavour.

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Ridden by young conditional Danny Cook, he was completing a double for the David Pipe stable who had won the Pertemps Final with Buena Vista.

The wins exemplified Cheltenham's unpredictable nature; Pipe's stable jockey Tom Scudamore was supposedly on the stable's more fancied horses in both races.

Meanwhile, Jonjo O'Neill's Albertas Run landed his second Festival victory as he powered up the hill to claim the Ryanair Chase in impressive style as Sir Robert Ogden's Voy Por Ustedes ended up unplaced.

Winner of the RSA Chase two years ago, Albertas Run had been written off by many – he was a 14-1 outsider – but champion jockey Tony McCoy had no such doubts and kicked on from the last to beat Poquelin handily.

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McCoy said: "That was nice. He's a good horse, he won the SunAlliance a few years ago and I'm just delighted for Trevor (Hemmings, owner)."

The finale was won by BallaBriggs for Donald McCain, with Ferdy Murphy's fast-finishing Galant Nuit a very close third.

Who won yesterday at Cheltenhamn

1.30: Copper Bleu (12-1). Was second at Doncaster in January 2009; Richard Johnson strong in the finish.

2.05: Buena Vista (16-1). A winner at his sixth Festival attempt, first time with the blinkers pays off.

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2.40: Albertas Run (14-1). A second Festival winner for the Jonjo O'Neill-trained horse.

3.20: Big Buck's (5-6 fav). A successful and emphatic defence of the World Hurdle crown for this star horse.

4.00: Great Endeavour (18-1). First Festival triumph for David Pipe's conditional Danny Cook.

4.40: BallaBriggs (9-1). Warmed up by winning at Catterick in January.

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