’Legend’ Buck’s heads to retirement after trailing home fifth in World Hurdle

Big Buck’s, the winner of four Ladbrokes World Hurdles, was retired after finishing fifth in the Cheltenham showpiece on day three of the Festival.

Trained by Paul Nicholls and owned by Andy Stewart, the 11-year-old was denied an almost-certain fifth stayers’ crown last season through injury, having to miss Cheltenham.

He returned after 420 days off the track to be third in the Cleeve Hurdle at January, and had been expected to improve markedly on that effort.