Grand show from Crus
David Pipe was prepared to throw down the challenge to Big Buck’s after his grey Grands Crus ended up an astonishingly impressive winner of the Rewards4Racing Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Big Buck’s has evaded all challengers in the staying division for the last couple of years, taking the Ladbrokes World Hurdle on two occasions, but bookmakers were forced to make wholesale changes in their market for the Festival title.
The sponsors even eased Big Buck’s to 4-6 favourite from 4-7 and priced Grands Crus up at just 3-1 after he pulverised a Grade Two field without coming under any serious pressure.
Pipe is rarely prone to over-excitement about his horses in the post-race debrief but he spoke in passionate terms on this occasion.
Grands Crus, the 2-1 favourite, had collected competitive handicaps at this course and at Haydock earlier in the campaign but this was a rather different kettle of fish.
Although Pipe says the six-year-old has his quirks at home, what was most striking was the agreeable way in which he moved through the race and he was a long way clear rounding the home turn to record a 10-length winning margin over Knockara Beau and Restless Harry.
Pipe said: “Most dreams are shattered here but he’s done that exceptionally nicely.
“I’ve always held him in the highest regard and he’s proved it today. Today was the World Hurdle without Big Buck’s and let’s hope we both get there in good form.
“I wouldn’t swap him for anything – even Big Buck’s.”
Elaborating on Grands Crus’ character, Pipe went on: “He’s a unique horse. He’s very quiet in his box and has his head down on the way to the gallops but once he gets to the gallops, you can’t stop him.
“Tom (Scudamore) got there too soon last time at Haydock and we just wanted to hold on to him as long as possible. Tom said I wouldn’t have been able to hold onto him today!”
Scudamore added: “He’s quite good isn’t he!
“You’d have to say he’s bang there. Big Buck’s is the one to beat but if anything is going to beat him, it’s going to be us.
“He switched off lovely early but then got a bit keen halfway through the race.
“Every time we step him up in his work he does everything so easily.”
The popular rider has only recently returned from a fortnight off with a kidney complaint.
He added: “To be honest it sounded more serious than it was. There was a small tear and it was just a case of giving it time to heal.
“This sort of horse is certainly one that encourages you to follow the doctor’s orders!”
Knockara Beau was returning to hurdles in a bid to reinvigorate his chasing career and trainer George Charlton was thrilled.
“He’s had some problems and we wanted to put him back over hurdles to get a bit of his confidence back,” said Northumberland-based Charlton.
“He ran better than I thought he would and we might well bring him back here for a handicap chase at the Festival.”
