| Big Buck's | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Cadoudal[1] |
| Dam | Buck's[1] |
| Damsire | Le Glorieux[1] |
| Sex | Gelding[1] |
| Foaled | 16th April 2003[1] |
| Country | France[1] |
| Colour | Bay or Brown[1] |
| Breeder | Henri Poulat[1] |
| Owner | Henri Poulat (2006-2007) Stewart Family (2007-)[1] |
| Trainer | R-E Lecomte (2006-2007) Paul Nicholls (2007-)[1] |
| Record | 34: 19-2-3[1] |
| Earnings | £1,042,052[1] |
| Major wins | |
| Prix Amadou (2007) Mildmay Novices' Chase (2008) Cleeve Hurdle (2009) World Hurdle (2009, 2010, 2011) Liverpool Hurdle (2009, 2010, 2011) Long Distance Hurdle (2009, 2010, 2011) Long Walk Hurdle (2009, 2010, 2011) |
|
| Horse (Equus ferus caballus) | |
Big Buck's (foaled 16 April 2003) is a National Hunt racehorse trained in Britain by Paul Nicholls and specialising in racing over hurdles. At the 2011 Cheltenham Festival Big Buck's made history by winning 3 consecutive World Hurdles, beating Grands Crus by one and a half lengths. He also confirmed his status as the greatest staying hurdler in history.[2]
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Big Buck's won the Mar-key Group Beginners' Chase beating the Queen's horse Barbers Shop. He then ran in the Bathwick Tyres Andover Novices' Chase and was just beaten by Moon Over Miami.
He started the season with a win in the Mc Seafoods Novices' Chase ridden by Ruby Walsh winning by 2 lengths. he went on to come in 3rd in the Kingmaker Novices' Chase and then went to the Cheltenham Festival for the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase where he finished 7th behind Finger OnThe Pulse. After the Festival he went to the Aintree to win the Mildmay Novices' Chase by 2 1/4 lengths, beating Battlecry (Horse). While Ruby Walsh was injured Sam Thomas rode him in the Hennessy Gold Cup, where Big Buck's blundered and unseated Thomas.
He ran his first race this season in 2009 at Cheltenham where he finished first, beating Don't Push It. He went on to win the Cleeve Hurdle, beating the odds-on favourite Punchestowns by four lengths. This was his prep race for the World Hurdle. On 12 March 2009 was the World Hurdle where Kasbah Bliss was the odds on favourite to win and Punchestowns the 100-30 second favourite. Big Buck's and Punchestowns both jumped the last fence together, but Big Bucks made a mistake. It didn't take anything out of him and he won by 1 3/4 lengths, with Powerstation third and Kasbah Bliss in fourth. Big Buck's went to Aintree for the Liverpool Hurdle but not many horses could complete in both the Cheltenham and Aintree double. He went on to beat Mighty Man by 3 1/4 lengths, who won this race in 2006 & 2007
In the 2010-2011 season Big Buck's was once again aimed at the Ladbrokes World Hurdle. In every race prior to the World Hurdle Big Buck's destroyed all opponents not even coming off the bridle once. When it came to the big event itself, it was billed a straight head to head between Big Buck's the reigning and unbeaten champion and the fast progressing Grands Crus. They both traveled well throughout the race and two out Big Buck's went to the lead being pushed out by jockey Ruby Walsh. However at the time Grands Crus looked to be traveling slightly the better, as Tom Scudamore looked to still be on the bridle, and went alongside the greatest staying hurdler of all time at the last and jumped it well. Big Buck's, who is known to be very idle in front, caught sight of Grands Crus and quickly accelerated away to win a third consecutive World Hurdle by 1 1/2 lengths, confirming his status as the greatest of all time in the staying hurdle division.[3][4]