Big Buck’s primed for World title clash

Big Buck’s is in “seriously good order” according to trainer Paul Nicholls as he bids to land the Ladbrokes World Hurdle for a fifth time at Cheltenham on Thursday.

Speaking at a forum after racing at Sandown on Saturday, the former champion trainer disagreed with owner Andy Stewart, who felt the 11-year-old had “fluffed his lines” when beaten by Knockara Beau in the Cleeve Hurdle in January.

It was his first start after 420 injury-enforced days off and he went down by three-quarters of a length, ending his winning streak at 18.