CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 15: Big Buck's (L) ridden by Ruby Walsh on his way to winning the Ladbrokes World Hurdle race from Voler La Vedette (R) ridden by Andrew Lynch at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 15, 2012 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Big Buck’s will go in search of an incredible fifth consecutive World Hurdle success when he lines up at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival.
Paul Nicholls’ legendary hurdler became the first horse to win seventeen straight British jump races when he cruised to victory in his fourth Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree in April and few would bet against him retaining his unbeaten record in 2012/13.
The French-bred horse hasn’t been beaten since he switched to the smaller obstacles at the start of 2009 and he is regarded as many by being one of the greatest jumps horses of all time.
The superstar is already 5/4 for the 2013 World Hurdle and after he powered to success in the race four times in the last four years it will take some horse to halt him.
In 2012, Irish raider Voler La Vedette ran the champion very close, as have Grand Crus, Time For Rupert and Punchestowns in previous years at Prestbury Park, but nothing has ever looked like beating him and it might take something special from his stablemate Zarkandar if he is going to be stopped.
Zarkandar lost his unbeaten record last season, but there is no doubting he remains a horse of considerable potential and he will have plenty of followers backing him at 12/1 for next year’s day three showpiece.
Willie Mullins will no doubt have a number of horses in line to take him on and the consistent Thousand Stars could be the one to give Big Buck’s most to think about.