David Pipe has admitted he is looking forward to running Grand Crus in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

The talented hurdler has won three races on the bounce and there are plenty of pundits who believe that the six-year-old could provide a realistic challenge to Big Buck’s who will be in search of a remarkable third consecutive success in the Grade One showpiece.

He was last seen hammering thirteen rivals in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham and Pipe believes that he is more than ready to make the leap up to Grade One company.

"We knew Grands Crus was going to win at Cheltenham in November and go on to win at Haydock a week later," the trainer explained.

"Horses like Grands Crus don't come around very often. It's like he gets tunnel vision on the track.  We may tow Big Buck's to the last hurdle, or all the way to the line.

"It's certainly added some spice to the race.  He is potentially the most exciting horse I've taken to Cheltenham."

Big Buck’s remains the bookies’ favourite for the March 17th showpiece, but the gamble behind Grand Crus continues to gather momentum with just three weeks to go until the Festival.