No end in sight as Big Buck's makes it 14

Report: Ascot, Saturday

Lough Derg Long Walk Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m 1f, 4yo+

BIG BUCK'S stretched his unbeaten sequence to 14 with a typically nonchalant victory in the Long Walk Hurdle.

This was the third consecutive year that he has won this race and the eighth time he has won at the highest level.

The Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old was sent off a 3-10 chance and recorded his 16^th win from 27 starts over hurdles as he came home well clear of 66-1 stablemate Five Dream.

Bookmakers were clearly impressed with this effort and he was cut to 4-7 (from 4-5) by William Hill to win the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival for a fourth successive year.

Dynaste was sent into an immediate lead by Conor O'Farrell with Restless Harry in behind as Walsh bided his time on Big Buck's in mid-division.

As has been the case in previous races, Big Buck's appeared to hit a flat spot - this time after three out - but by the time the favourite was heading to the second-last he was upsides the long-time leader.

Two from home Big Buck's jumped into a clear lead and by the time he crossed the line he had effortlessly put eight lengths between himself and Five Dream, who put in his best work late on to finish a length and a half in front of Restless Harry.   

Walsh, who has now won on Big Buck's on 14 times said: "He is an incredible horse. He is an incredible stayer with loads of pace. He is mature and growing up. Going right-handed is not an issue nowadays, it might have been three years ago but he is such a more mature horse now it is incredible."

Big Buck's was making it two wins from two for the season having won the Long Distance Hurdle on his return last time and Nicholls said: "He is a lot fitter than he was at Newbury. He is awfully hard to get fit as he is so idle at home. He was carrying a whole heap of conditions at Newbury - he was fat really - and he looked a lot fitter today.

"That was a much better performance. He stays and he has got everything really."

The sponsors offered a tempting 4-6 non-runner no bet about Big Buck's for the World Hurdle and looking to the future Nicholls continued: "We will look after him, pick our races with him and hopefully he will be very hard to beat.

"We'll mind him and he'll probably only have a racecourse gallop four weeks ahead of Cheltenham. But I have talked to Andy [Stewart, owner] and have half a mind to run in the Cleeve Hurdle but we'll see about that."

The Cleeve Hurdle could also be on the agenda for the runner-up now according to assistant trainer Dan Skelton, as well as Dynaste who dropped back to finish fourth. His trainer David Pipe said: "Dynaste has run well. It's his first time in top-level company off level weights. We'll see [about the Cleeve Hurdle]."

A switch back to chasing is a possibility for Restless Harry. Trainer Robin Dickin: "We'll see how Restless Harry is before deciding if he'll go back over fences.

"He's had two good races over fences and it hasn't slowed him down over hurdles - he knows going to the first if it's a fence or a hurdle. The World Hurdle is a massive prize, but I don't know yet."