Buck's on the money in Long Walk

Big Buck’s once again stamped his class with an authoritative display in the Racing UK On Virgin 536 Long Walk Hurdle at Newbury.

Last season’s World Hurdle hero was sent off at 1-2 to record his sixth successive victory over timber, but there were a few anxious moments as Ruby Walsh became animated turning for home.

However, the Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old responded to his rider’s urgings and quickened up smartly in the testing ground after taking the final flight in front.

Karabak stayed on tenaciously to fill the runner-up spot, three and a half lengths adrift, while the strong-travelling Diamond Harry could finish only third.

Walsh said: ``He's a very, very good horse - he's a great stayer.

“He handles the ground, I wouldn’t say he loved it but not too many horses do.

“He only does enough, but I guess that’s what you want with three-mile hurdlers.

“He was very deliberate over fences and took him a long time to get from A to B.

“As soon as he switched back to hurdles he turned them inside out.”

Nicholls said: "He won't have enjoyed that ground but he's a class horse and he's got through it.

“I will have a look at the Cleeve Hurdle but I wouldn’t want to run him if it was very heavy or he might leave his race behind for the Festival.”

"He's not always the most straightforward and I was worried it was going to turn into a tactical nightmare, but he just keeps so much in the locker and just does enough.

“He looks rock-solid after today and I’m not sure he really enjoyed the ground. I’m sure he likes to bounce off better ground.

“From the day he walked into the ground I just loved him as he had class and presence – we obviously thought he was going to make a high-class chaser.

“As it’s turned out it’s the best thing that’s happened, him going back over hurdles, as the other two lads (Kauto Star and Denman) are doing really well.

“We’ll discuss it and see about the Cleeve Hurdle, but we’d like to go to Cheltenham (World Hurdle) and we’d like to go to Aintree again.”

Alan King said of Karabak: "That was a much better run and he's run much closer to his Cheltenham form of last spring.

“I’ll have to have a chat to Frank Berry (owner JP McManus’ racing manager) but I’m inclined to go straight to Cheltenham.”

Nick Williams said of Diamond Harry: “The official handicapper has got it spot-on and he’s run to form.

“We are going to have to consider the RSA Chase route now – he’s been over fences at home.

“We did a similar thing with Cornas last year, but nothing is set in stone.”