Big Buck’s, considered one of the finest staying hurdlers of all time, has passed away at 23 years old. The horse was owned by the late Andy Stewart and trained by Paul Nicholls during a particularly successful period for the Ditcheat stable that also featured other notable performers including Kauto Star, Denman, Master Minded, and Neptune Collonges.
Originally viewed as a potential top-class chaser, Big Buck’s suffered a setback when he fell at the final fence in the 2008 Hennessy Gold Cup. This incident prompted connections to redirect him to hurdles, a decision that proved transformative. The horse went on to achieve remarkable success over hurdles, becoming known for his distinctive racing style in which he would often hit a flat spot during races before surging to victory in the closing stages.
Big Buck’s accumulated an impressive record of victories, winning what is now the Stayers’ Hurdle four times, the Liverpool Hurdle four times, and the Long Walk Hurdle on three occasions. The horse developed a celebrated partnership with jockey Ruby Walsh and became a fan favorite at major racing venues. He established a then-record of 18 consecutive National Hunt race victories when competing over hurdles, a streak that was later surpassed only by Altior.
Nicholls reflected on Big Buck’s potential as a chaser, noting that the horse possessed exceptional ability but was not naturally suited to jumping fences. The trainer speculated that had the Hennessy Gold Cup outcome been different, the horse might have remained in chasing and potentially challenged for the Gold Cup. However, Nicholls credited Stewart with the decision to focus on hurdles, which proved to be the optimal path. The horse remained in retirement with Mike and Lucy Felton until his recent death. Nicholls described Big Buck’s fourth victory in the Stayers’ Hurdle as the most memorable moment of the horse’s decorated career.
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