Big Buck’s heads a field of 46 in his bid to reap yet another World Hurdle at Cheltenham, William Hill going 4-7 about Paul Nicholls’ eight-year-old, with betting without the favourite also available.
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If successful in a third Championship staying event, Andy Stewart’s long-distance dominator could equal the record of the fantastic Inglis Drever, and record a monumental eleventh victory on the spin.
In a bid to upset the division, Nicky Henderson relies on the progressive Oscar Whisky, 2009 runner-up Punchestowns and 2009’s Triumph Hurdle-winning Zaynar, whereas Alan King fields exciting pair Karabak and Bensalem.
The David Pipe-trained Grand Crus has been the subject of significant support since his Cheltenham and Haydock routs, with Irish hope Mikael D’Haguenet returning to the smaller obstacles after two winless starts over fences.
Lucy Rhodes, spokeswoman for William Hill, said, ‘Big Buck’s was the only one of four to have returned from Prestbury last season with his Championship banker status intact. He’s since been hot fav for the hat-trick – can anyone crack the Stewarts’ staying stranglehold this time?’
World Hurdle: 4-7 Big Buck’s, 8-1 Quevega, 10-1 Karabak, 12-1 Grand Crus, Oscar Whisky, Punchestowns, 14-1 Mourad, Solwhit, Zaynar, 16-1 Any Given Day, Mikael D’Haguenet, 20-1 Bensalem, Celestial Halo, Fiveforthree, Khyber Kim, 25-1 Ashkazar, Luska Lad, Organisateur, Shinrock Paddy, Thousand Stars, 33-1 Fair Along, Powerstation, Restless Harry, Souffleur, Spirit River, Walkon, 40-1 Cristal Bonus, 50-1 Berties Dream, Beshabar, Blackstairmountain, Catch Me, James De Vassy, Shalone 66-1 BAR (EW 1/4 1,2,3)
World Hurdle w/o Big Buck’s: 4-1 Quevega, 9-2 Karabak, 11-2 Any Given Day, Grand Crus, 6-1 Mourad, Oscar Whisky, Punchestowns, 8-1 Solwhit, 9-1 Zaynar, 10-1 Bensalem, Khyber Kim, Mikael D’Haguenet, 11-1 Celestial Halo, 12-1 Fiveforthree, 14-1 Ashkazar, Luska Lad, Organisateur, Shinrock Paddy, Thousand Stars, 16-1 Fair Along, Souffleur, Spirit River, Walkon, 20-1 Cristal Bonus, Powerstation, Restless Harry, 25-1 Berties Dream, Beshabar, Blackstairmountain, Catch Me, James De Vassy, Shalone (EW 1/4 1,2,3)
