Cleeve Hurdle Betting: Brilliant Buck's heads the entries

News / Timeform / 23 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Big Buck's will run in the Cleeve Hurdle before Cheltenham.

"The Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old, rated 176+ by Timeform, appears better than ever this season..."

Big Buck's appears to face a straightforward task as he goes in search of a 15th straight victory in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday...

The Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old, rated 176+ by Timeform, appears better than ever this season and, barring accidents, it seems his 10 possible rivals face a near-impossible task.

Stablemate Five Dream has chased him home at both Newbury and Ascot and is likely to renew rivalry. Nicholls could also run Oscargo.

Willie Mullins' Mourad was third behind Big Buck's in the World Hurdle last March and could give him most to do this weekend.

Dynaste, trained by David Pipe, paid the price for trying to beat Big Buck's in the Long Walk, eventually fading into fourth, but will have another crack at in this contest.

Restless Harry has not repeated the heroics of his Wetherby win first time out, either over fences or hurdles, while Martin Keighley's novice Hard To Swallow is an interesting entry.

Kayf Aramis, Cross Kennon, Whatuthink and Across The Bay complete the 11 entries.

Trainer Donald McCain has the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham as an aim for Across The Bay, who could instead run at Huntingdon on Friday.

McCain told Racing UK: "He's rated 140 and he's in a Pertemps qualifier at Huntingdon on Friday, but I've never had any luck there and I just wanted another option.

"I just wanted to get one more run into him and I thought there might not be many entries (in the Cleeve) so we'll see.

"Rather than take on 18 at Huntingdon, it might be an option."