Weekend Review: Big Buck's stars on Cheltenham Trials day

Latest News / Timeform / 30 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Big Buck's looks impossible to oppose in the World Hurdle.

"The outstanding Big Buck’s found his Cleeve Hurdle assignment all too easy, turning the Grade 2 event into something of an afternoon gallop and extending his unbeaten run to 15..."

Timeform look back at a weekend dominated by Cheltenham Trials day on Saturday and some top-class action from Ireland on Sunday, including the return of Champion Hurdler Hurricane Fly...

The outstanding Big Buck's ultimately found his Cleeve Hurdle assignment all too easy, turning the Grade 2 event into something of an afternoon gallop and extending his unbeaten run to 15. He was contesting this race for the first time since 2009, reasons for which Betfair columnist Paul Nicholls explained in his Saturday piece, and he is simply impossible to oppose in the World Hurdle as he has already beaten the majority of his rivals for that race this season, with Oscar Whisky the exception.

Dynaste will hold excellent place prospects in the World Hurdle though, ridden with more restraint on Saturday than in the Long Walk at Ascot and briefly looking as if he was going to ask Big Buck's a fairly stern question. Whatever happens at the Festival, he could well take high rank among novice chasers next season.

The Grade 2 Argento Chase went the way of Midnight Chase, trained by Neil Mulholland. Unfortunately, the race rarely lives up to its billing as a Gold Cup trial, and there were more negatives than positives to emerge, with a number of horses somewhat ruling themselves out of being credible prospects for the Festival showpiece in March.

That said, Midnight Chase got right back to his very best, jumping and responding extremely well from the front to see off Tidal Bay (again failed to go through with finishing effort). Midnight Chase is likely to head to the Gold Cup, and is currently available at [20.0], although he will need a number of his rivals to underperform if he is to better last year's fifth placing.

His attributes make him a more interesting contender for the Grand National (a race which his owner won in 1997 with Lord Gyllene), especially at his current price of [75.0], although this win is unlikely to do his handicap mark any favours.

Time For Rupert and Diamond Harry were both disappointing, the former seeming more a Grand National hope than a Gold Cup contender, whilst Diamond Harry's effort promised far more than it delivered. He reportedly suffered from a breathing problem, however.

Also at Cheltenham, The Giant Bolster put up a very smart performance to land the Grade 3 handicap chase, his jumping really coming together, bar one mistake, under an attacking ride. So well does the course and distance suit him, a crack at the Ryanair ([30.0]) is a realistic aim for the seven-year-old.

The opening race on Cheltenham's card is a significant trial for the Triumph Hurdle, with Grumeti ([12.0]), Pearl Swan ([10.0]), Hollow Tree ([27.0]) and Baby Mix ([19.5]) all prominent in the ante-post betting. Grumeti emerged as official winner, but it was only after the stewards reversed placings with Pearl Swan as a result of interference close home. There is unlikely to be much between them again back at Cheltenham in March.

Hollow Tree is likely to need softer ground to reverse the form with the front two, for all that his excellent attitude and jumping stand him in good stead. Baby Mix put up a disappointing finishing effort, which raises cause for concern, although some explanation may come to light.

Batonnier and Broadbackbob, first and second respectively in Grade 2 novices' hurdle over two and a half miles, showed useful form in fighting out the finish and both still have the potential to progress. They presumably have the option of either of the staying novices races at Cheltenham, although they will have to improve a fair amount to mix it with the likes of Fingal Bay and Boston Bob, who have both achieved more to date.

Moving on to Doncaster, where Calgary Bay showed himself better than ever to land the feature handicap chase from a 6 lb higher mark than when successful at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. The Grand National is reportedly his next target, as it is for Shakalakaboomboom, who finished second. Neither is guaranteed to stay, but the latter at least heads to Aintree as a relatively lightly-raced second-season chaser.

Doncaster's novice chase won by Kid Cassidy is fairly difficult to assess with Menorah crashing out at the third fence. He also got the first all wrong and it could be that his jumping is going to hold him back over fences.

Kid Cassidy did not need to improve to win, but the impression is that he does have a better performance in him when everything clicks into place. The Arkle is an option ([38.0]) although Aintree appeals as a better one with the sharp track likely to suit.

There was excellent racing in Ireland on both Saturday and Sunday, featuring a brilliant winning reappearance for Hurricane Fly. Boston Bob also highlighted his claims for the staying novice hurdle events at Cheltenham, whilst Sir des Champs strengthening his position at the head of the Jewson betting. Click HERE to read more on Ireland's weekend action.