Handicappers' Corner: Buck's beaten but Festival beckons

The main talking point going to the weekend was the eagerly-awaited return of Big Buck's in the Cleeve Hurdle, unbeaten in 18 starts over hurdles in this country. Side-lined since picking up a leg injury in the aftermath of the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury at the end of 2012, Big Buck's was sent off odds-against, though still a well-supported favourite at 6/5, for the first time since Cheltenham in 2009, when he beat Punchestowns to take the first of his four World Hurdle titles. 

It would have been a relatively straightforward task for a fully-primed Big Buck's, with outsider Knockara Beau only needing to run up to his previous best of 149 to see off At Fishers Cross (H153) by a short-head, but lack of fitness after 14 months off, coupled with extremely testing ground conditions, appeared to be his undoing, though not before the 11-year-old had shaped as though retaining much of his ability.

In truth it was only after the last that defeat looked likely for Big Buck's, Paul Nicholls' charge going with plenty of zest under new pilot Sam Twiston-Davies as he led on the bridle three from home, understandably tying up after the last as the lack of match-fitness took its toll. Plainly the fact that he's run some 20 lb below his Timeform best of 176 is a concern with regards to his World Hurdle chances though, taking into account the mitigating circumstances and the likelihood that he will come on plenty for this reappearance, he still holds leading claims of landing a fifth title.

Elsewhere at Cheltenham the Grade 2 Argento Chase, billed as a trial for the Gold Cup, is likely to have only marginal significance come March, the winner The Giant Bolster not needing to run to his previous best of 165 to taste success. Tried in a hood/visor for the first time, the nine-year-old was favourably treated on his best form and bounced back after a series of uninspiring efforts this term; it's reported that he will take his chance in the Gold Cup, a race in which he has finished second and fourth in the last two years, but he is some way short of the level required to triumph in that event.

Rocky Creek had been touted as a potential Gold Cup candidate by connections after finishing second in the Hennessy Gold Cup, though they are now thinking more of the Grand National after he finished second here. He's still open to improvement over fences, hence his Timeform rating of 158p, but it is likely that he would come up short in a Gold Cup, so it's understandable that Aintree is now the main aim.

A quick mention must go to Harry Topper, who had plenty on conceding weight all-round here. Conditions were in his favour, as was the sedate pace which placed little pressure on jumping, so it is a concern to see his fencing again lack fluency, and an 'x' has now been added to his rating of 159. He makes no appeal as a Gold Cup candidate and essentially needs maximum emphasis on stamina with as little as possible on jumping.

The crowds at Cheltenham also witnessed the development of a couple of exciting, young recruits the hurdling game, namely Le Rocher and Red Sherlock who firmly put themselves in the Festival picture. The first-mentioned, now rated 146 which makes him the highest-rated juvenile of the season with Timeform, was authoritative in success, stamina very much his strength and displayed to great advantage late on; he clearly boasts leading claims for the Triumph Hurdle, though whether he will be quite so effective on less testing ground or with the emphasis less on stamina remains to be seen.

The third-placed horse, Vicenze Mio (143+), was strictly below form here but he shaped much better than the bare result, this looking more of a test of stamina than would be ideal. He remains open to further progress and would be of interest for a race like the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton in late-February, whilst an entry in the Supreme, as well as he Triumph, wouldn't go amiss.

Diamond Harry, Bobs Worth and At Fishers Cross are amongst recent winners of the trial won by Red Sherlock on Saturday, so he's got a fair bit to live up to but the style of his success suggests there is good reason to think he can make an impact at the highest level. Now rated 151p, putting him alongside King's Palace and Faugheen at the top of Timeform's list of novice hurdlers, the five-year-old is sure to improve further still and will merit serious consideration wherever he turns up at Cheltenham.

Rathvinden (150p), beaten two and a half lengths by Red Sherlock, lost nothing in defeat conceding 3 lb to the winner, remains open to further improvement himself and is certainly one to bear in mind.

Doncaster played host to some excellent racing on Saturday, starting with the Grade 2 Lightning Chase won by Valdez. With Fox Appeal being unsuited by the drop to two miles and Caid du Berlais not improving as seemed likely, it's probably a Grade 2 that didn't take much winning with Valdez (147p) not having to match his previous best to triumph. However there is every chance that he just needed the run after two months off, his stable as a whole shutting down over Christmas due to a bug, and whilst this wasn't quite the performance of an Arkle winner he most certainly remains open to further improvement.

The Grade 2 Mares' Hurdle looked one-sided beforehand and proved so in event, Annie Power 23 lb clear of Cockney Sparrow on adjusted pre-race ratings and not having to run within a stone of her best to come out on top, making every yard without coming off the bridle. This tells us nothing new, her rating remains unchanged on 167p, and all that remains to be seen is which race connections target at Cheltenham where, incidentally, she would come out top on Timeform's weight-adjusted figures for the Champion Hurdle taking into account her mares' allowance.

Clearly Willie Mullins already holds a strong hand in the Champion Hurdle courtesy of Hurricane Fly, who emulated Istabraq by winning the Irish Champion Hurdle for the fourth successive year. He needed to dig deep to do so, rallying gamely after getting in close to the last, but he looked as good as ever, and is the one they have to beat at Cheltenham.

The finishing position of Captain Cee Bee holds this form down to an extent, the ratings of Hurricane Fly (173), Our Conor (166) and Jezki (169) all remaining unchanged. The latter mentioned pair certainly deserve to take their chance at Cheltenham though could be playing for minor honours if Hurricane Fly arrives at the top of his game. 

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