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"- grand crus
– lough derg
– time for rupert
– diamond harry
– mighty man
– fair along
– blazing bailey
– kasbah bliss
– don’t push it
– snoopy loopy
– albertas run"Some good horses in that list. Great horses though?
I’m not trying to knock Big Buck’s here by the way, I’m just pointing out that, as has already been mentioned, we may never know just how good he is as he nobody will want to challenge him until the inevitable decline with age sets in. And that isn’t his fault.
Muhammed Ali’s greatness could be measured against the other greats he fought against in his era. Sadly for Big Buck’s, he may never have a ‘great rival’ to bring out the best in him.
This is why we should count our blessings that this century we have witnessed the brilliant triumvirate of two mile chasers Well Chief, Azertyuiop and Moscow Flyer, and of course two all time greats in Kauto Star and Denman.
I think Big Buck’s, like many other champions of their discipline in sport such as Joe Calzaghe, Stephen Hendry and Phil Taylor (until recent years), suffers from being the only stand out competitor and will struggle to fend off the question – "Yes well done, but who did you beat?".
It goes without saying that the staying hurdle division is weaker than the staying chase division, and always will be. But a horse (or boxer/snooker player etc..) can only beat what is put infront of them.
Big Buck’s has stuffed everyone he has met out of sight. Punchestowns is the only horse that has ‘beat him’ on ratings as he was a good few pounds wrong at the weights when they first met. However, Big Buck’s in hindsight won with an awful lot in hand that day so the weight difference can be rendered irrelevant.
Probably the best horse he has beaten is Kasbah Bliss. Grands Crus could yet take that title if he goes on to festival glory this year.
It is unlikely that Big Buck’s will meet a top drawer rival this season as there simply isn’t one around. That’s not his fault.
I suppose an interesting hypothetical question would be; in a World Hurdle, assuming all are at their peak, how would you price it up if Big Buck’s took on Kauto Star and Denman?
If all three met in a Gold Cup then I’d have Big Buck’s priced much longer than the other two.
Cheers for that IC, that’s very exciting news!
The highest rated hurdler to go hurdling for a while I’d imagine.
He started favourite for the Derby in 2008 if I remember correctly!
Aha!
Thanks very much guys!
I thought it was a limited handicap……problem solved!
Cheers!
I must admit I allowed my heart to rule my head yesterday and I backed Long Run. I fell for the hype and my first reaction that he was bitterly disappointing.
However, putting things into perspective, I don’t think the horse ran a stinker. To the contrary, I believe he ran a good race considering he is only a five year old running in a handicap for the first time out of novice company, giving weight to some experienced yet improving sorts.
The hype surrounding him is not his fault – I still believe he’ll go on to be a top notcher albeit over a flat track rather than an undulous course such as Cheltenham. I can’t see him worrying Kauto Star in the King George and anyone who has a 5/1 voucher for him must be scratching their head. Next season? Maybe…
I don’t believe that going down the hurdling route with him is a viable option. I think that connections should stick to the King George plan and then maybe head to Ascot for their 2m5f chase in late January/early Feb then maybe bypass Cheltenham and head to Aintree and/or Sandown.
Don’t write him off yet – it’s worth casting your mind back to Kauto Star’s 2005/2006 campaign (when he was 5 going on 6) to remember that, though all may not go to plan, all is not lost!
Hmmm, that’s interesting. So it’s likely that we’ve seen the last of Kauto over less than three miles?
Pity really, I think he’s the best around at two and a half. I still believe he (and Monet’s Garden for that matter) should have contested the Melling Chase at Aintree rather than the Betfair Bowl.
"James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal on November 1st."
Over what distance is this race ran? I read somewhere that he’s a possible for the Charlie Hall?
Pipe was getting interviewed on Get On a week or so back, and confirmed that he’s back and looking well. They’re planning to have him out early in the new year, with another crack at the Champion Chase his main target.
Fingers crossed it goes well for him – he deserves it.
I think he has been retired. His was a very serious injury and I wouldn’t imagine that he could return, although he’s in the betting for the World Hurdle on Betfair.
The scary thing about Master Minded is that Nicholls thinks he’ll be even better this season!
I can’t see Master Minded and Voy Por Ustedes meeting again to be honest. Master Minded looks set for a two-mile-only campaign, and Voy Por is unlikely to drop back to the minimum given his classy Aintree performance.
I’m looking forward to seeing the return of Glencove Marina, who was without doubt the best Irish novice chaser last term. Pity he got injured when he did as I think he’d have at least placed in the Arkle.
Any work on Noland’s targets this season?
Any WORD I meant, sorry!
John Quinn said after Blythe Knight’s recent Epsom victory:
"He loves it here and that’s the end of jump racing for him. We were quite hopeful when he finished second to Katchit in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton but he ran in the soft at Cheltenham and ran no sort of race. He prefers running on the Flat and we were never going to trudge him around in handicap hurdle company. It just shows you what a stiff task he had trying to give Smokey Oakey (recent winner of Brigadier Gerard Stakes) 15lb in the Lincoln and today was a very good performance for an eight-year-old. There is nothing for him at Ascot, he doesn’t really like it there anyway, and we will probably head for a Group race in Germany, one in Ireland and he ran a good race in a Group 2 at Longchamp in October and he’ll probably go there again."
Pity really as he’ll probably only have one more chance at the Champion Hurdle at his age.
I wonder if Ask will ever be sent over timber? I know the horse was bought for hurdling, but his impressive flat form seems to have curtailed any potential jumps career. Ask would probably be the best flat horse to jump for many a year.
