Buck’s ‘the goat’ proves that he was only kidding

FOR a while there, it looked like War of Attrition might just pull off what would have been a heart-warming and unlikely postscript to a storied career in yesterday’s featured World Hurdle.

Backed down from 40-1 in the morning to half that come race time, the former Gold Cup winner led from the front from the off before being submerged by the pack and it was Big Buck’s who led the charge home.

Sentiment had little to do with the cheer that greeted the seven-year-old’s romp up the hill. It had been another day of carnage for the punters and the win for such a hot favourite offered badly-needed respite from the bloodletting.