Awesome Big Buck's records 15th straight win

Report: Cheltenham, Saturday

Rewards4Racing Cleeve Hurdle (Grade 2) 3m, 5yo+

BIG BUCK'S made it 15 straight wins with an awesome performance, pulling seven lengths clear of Dynaste from the last, having trailed the runner-up going into the final flight.

Settled in mid-division, Ruby Walsh was working off the home bend to stoke up the 1-4 favourite as Tom Scudamore looked around on the strong-travelling Dynaste, but Big Buck's hit top gear close home to record a commanding success.

William Hill reacted by going 4-9 (from 8-13) and Walsh said: "It's brilliant. He's a great horse to ride. I've always said good stayers can quicken off a strong pace. Tom Scudamore rode a canny enough race and was quickening all the time but he's just a very good horse, he's even better on better ground."

Nicholls added: "He just switches off and then comes there travelling. Ruby said he was in front too soon at Ascot and said he was going to leave it much later today. He came there before the last, jumped it and bingo. It is a lot of pressure but he is such a brilliant horse. We could have ridden him closer two the pace but we were mindful about saving some petrol for Cheltenham."

Dynaste ran a brave race and, just for a moment, looked like he was going to pull-off an unthinkable upset. Although unable to hold off one of the greatest staying hurdlers of all time, trainer David Pipe was ecstatic with the run.

He said: "He has probably run the race of his life and will be back in March."

William Hill originally went 4-7 (from 8-13) about Big Buck's retaining his World Hurdle crown in March before going just 4-9. After Pipe confirmed the runner-up for the same race, Hills cut the promising six-year-old to 10-1 (from 20s).