Nicholls still confident ‘banker bet’ Big Buck’s will deliver the goods

Not only is he odds-on to land a fourth successive victory in the supreme contest for staying hurdlers, but he would equal Sir Ken’s record run of 16 wins in the 1950s.

Unbeaten since reverting to hurdlers after coming to grief at the final fence of the 2008 Hennessy, he is champion trainer Paul Nicholls’s banker bet of the meeting – a strong tip in its own right.

That said, it promises to be a fascinating duel with Nicky Henderson’s Oscar Whisky, last year’s Champion Hurdle third who has been trained with this race in mind.

With Big Buck’s showing a tendency to hit inexplicable flat spots during his races, Barry Geraghty could pounce on Oscar Whisky – and hope that Big Buck’s does not have sufficient reserves of speed for the run-in where he battled past Grands Crus a year ago in one of the races of the year.

Certainly Nicholls was leaving nothing to chance ahead of today’s date with destiny.

“Big Buck’s is in great order and comes good at this time of year,” he said. “He keeps winning and he has beaten all of them except Oscar Whisky – I have a feeling he could be his toughest opponent to date. He’s the obvious one, but he’s going to have to be very good to beat Big Buck’s and to stay very well. You’d have to say Big Buck’s was my banker of the meeting as he’s such a brilliant horse and I think he looks better in his coat than ever.”

As for the challenger, Henderson’s doubt is whether Oscar Whisky, who warmed up for this race by winning on Kempton’s all-weather, will actually see out the three-mile trip.

“He’s not a Champion Hurdle horse. I know he was third last year and he’s improved a bit as well, but we’ve got to try this race,” said the trainer. “He’s in really good shape and it’s all a matter of if he stays. If he does, then we’re capable of giving Big Buck’s a race.”

That view is shared by David Pipe who saddles Dynaste who tried to run the finish out of Big Buck’s at Ascot in December before the Nicholls star pulled out the stops.

The grey was then second to Big Buck’s in the Cleeve Hurdle over today’s course and distance.

“He’s got to improve a little to be in the frame, but hopefully he can,” said Pipe. “I can’t see a reason why he’ll beat Big Buck’s, but it won’t stop us trying. He’s another we’re looking forward to sending novice chasing next season.”

Owned by Andy Stewart, Big Buck’s will not replace horses like the iconic Kauto Star in the public’s affections because he is not a show-off. Critics point to a lack of depth in the three mile hurdling division.

That said, it will represent one of racing’s all-time great training performances if he equals Sir Ken’s record while also winning a fourth successive World Hurdle. Just keeping a horse sound to compete at four Festivals on the bounce is a feat in itself.