Big Buck’s has World at his feet
Paul Nicholls pulled off a masterstroke by sending the talented seven-year-old back over the smaller obstacles last season and he has continued in the same vein, registering two comfortable successes so far this campaign.
Interestingly, he is the champion trainer’s sole entry in the Grade One event.
Last season’s runner-up Punchestowns has been given an entry although he is expected to continue a career over fences shortly, while Diamond Harry, who proved no match for Big Buck’s in last month’s Long Walk Hurdle, is set to make his chasing debut at the weekend.
The progressive Lie Forrit holds an entry for Willie Amos, while former Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition is one of 12 Irish-trained possibles.
Howard Johnson won the World Hurdle three times with Inglis Drever and he has entered Tidal Bay this time.
Cousin Vinny, Karabak, Katchit and Sentry Duty are other interesting contenders.
Meanwhile, connections of Punjabi are concerned the Nicky Henderson-trained gelding might not be seen at his best in tomorrow’s sportingbet.com Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock due to the recent snow and the prospect of heavy ground.
“The snow of recent times kept the Henderson team restricted to the indoor school for more than a week and just when they thought winter had ended, the white stuff returned to Lambourn at the highly-inconvenient time of Wednesday morning,” said Tony Stafford, racing manager to owner Raymond Tooth.
“Whether Punjabi will be fit enough to win at Haydock, given his metabolism and the almost guaranteed heavy ground, will only be known during the race. Certainly there are enough opponents capable of testing the reigning champion to the full.”
Punjabi only returned to action last month when he was fourth to Khyber Kim in the boylesports.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham.
And he is likely to renew rivalry with Alan King’s Medermit, who finished third that day.
“Medermit is the link between Punjabi and Go Native, winner of last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on the same day as Punjabi’s great triumph,” Stafford continued.
“Interestingly, the times of the two races were almost identical, Medermit flying up the hill to be second to Noel Meade’s star.”
