Big Buck's (above) is in search of a third consecutive success in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle. (credit: Carine06)
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David Pipe is full of confidence ahead of the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at next week's Cheltenham Festival and the trainer believes that Grand Crus could be ready to lower the colours of legendary staying hurdler Big Buck’s.
Grand Crus has emerged as a genuine threat to Big Buck’s’ domination in the Thursday feature and the bookmakers have been forced to push out the odds of Paul Nicholls’ unbeaten hurdler with William Hill now going a top priced 11/8.
Speaking at his press morning on Tuesday Pipe spoke in depth about Grand Crus and his chances at Pretsbury Park: "He's pretty laid-back and doesn't show himself off. What he's like now is what he's like in his box and what he's like going down to the gallops.
"But you get him on the gallops and in a race and he's completely different. It's like he has tunnel vision. He's very keen and you have to look after him."
Last seen cruising to victory in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham, Grand Crus has been pleasing Pipe ever since and Pipe continued: "He won very well at Cheltenham in November and put up a great performance a week later at Haydock. Then he went into Graded company and had to prove himself off level weights.
"We still fancied him that day, but the manner of his victory was pretty staggering.
"He put the race to bed in a matter of strides and after that we got very excited. He's had a good preparation since, we gave him a break and touch wood, all is going well for next Thursday.
"Big Buck's is still the one to beat and we have to improve a bit more but we're young - he's only six - and he has only had eight races in his life.
"We hope there'll be further improvement. We'd like to see a little more rain about, but Cheltenham will make sure it's safe ground."
