AdorableAlice
Well-Known Member
I wasn't querying the fact he did not win, I was merely saying many injured horses compete/race etc again.
Is Big Bucks back?!
- Thread starter Elf On A Shelf
- Start date
I wasn't querying the fact he did not win, I was merely saying many injured horses compete/race etc again.
Exploding Chestnuts
Well-Known Member
What others were saying was that the horse could have won this race using other tactics ...... no doubt it would have been possible eg by galloping flat out to the point of exhaustion ........... such racing techniques may win one race but horses get injured if the jockey does not ride in a sensible manner, and injuries are more likely when returning from injury.
Dobiegirl
Well-Known Member
here is a fine line between lavish praise and serious doubt in racing, and halfway up the run-in at Cheltenham yesterday everyone was set to be in raptures about a win for Big Buck's on his comeback run in the Cleeve Hurdle.
But because he got tired late on, on his first start in 14 months, a lot of people have questioned whether he is still the horse he was.
I suppose only the World Hurdle at the Festival will 100% tell us that - he was clearly below his best yesterday but that was to be expected, win lose or draw, as there is no substitute for race-fitness whatever you do with them at home - but the more we thought and analysed the performance in the aftermath of defeat, the more thrilled we were.
Of course, immediately after any defeat, disappointment and deflation are the first emotions you feel. Especially with a horse as high-profile as Big Buck's, with his phenomenal 18-race unbeaten run going into the Cleeve.
But we have been down this route with the likes of Kauto Star and Denman before. And yesterday was more about finding out what horse we had left, and that is why I instructed Sam to be positive on the horse and to make sure that he had a proper race.
Sam rode him exactly how we had discussed beforehand. The horse travelled well, jumped well, quickened going to the last, and then got tired on very bad ground on the run-in.
We were thrilled, especially as we had a genuine discussion beforehand about whether he ran yesterday with the ground far from ideal. And had we been coming into that race in a normal year with a run already under his belt, then we would probably have withdrawn him.
But we had to get a run into him to have a serious shot at the World Hurdle in March, and I think that he answered plenty of questions yesterday.
Sure, the form doesn't match up to his top-notch victories, most of whom have been on good ground, but his normal exuberance and slick jumping were there for all see, it is just that he simply got tired in ground much softer than ideal.
And the icing on the cake was to see him eat up last night and this morning, and for his legs to be cold and A1 when Clifford checked him out this morning.
So it is now all systems go for Cheltenham, where I genuinely feel that he goes as the one to beat yet again.
That race yesterday will have done him the world of good, and we will give you weekly updates on his progress in this column.
Paul Nicholls
26 January 2014
Latest News
0 Comments
Twitter
"Sam rode him exactly how we had discussed beforehand. The horse travelled well, jumped well, quickened going to the last, and then got tired on very bad ground on the run-in."
But because he got tired late on, on his first start in 14 months, a lot of people have questioned whether he is still the horse he was.
I suppose only the World Hurdle at the Festival will 100% tell us that - he was clearly below his best yesterday but that was to be expected, win lose or draw, as there is no substitute for race-fitness whatever you do with them at home - but the more we thought and analysed the performance in the aftermath of defeat, the more thrilled we were.
Of course, immediately after any defeat, disappointment and deflation are the first emotions you feel. Especially with a horse as high-profile as Big Buck's, with his phenomenal 18-race unbeaten run going into the Cleeve.
But we have been down this route with the likes of Kauto Star and Denman before. And yesterday was more about finding out what horse we had left, and that is why I instructed Sam to be positive on the horse and to make sure that he had a proper race.
Sam rode him exactly how we had discussed beforehand. The horse travelled well, jumped well, quickened going to the last, and then got tired on very bad ground on the run-in.
We were thrilled, especially as we had a genuine discussion beforehand about whether he ran yesterday with the ground far from ideal. And had we been coming into that race in a normal year with a run already under his belt, then we would probably have withdrawn him.
But we had to get a run into him to have a serious shot at the World Hurdle in March, and I think that he answered plenty of questions yesterday.
Sure, the form doesn't match up to his top-notch victories, most of whom have been on good ground, but his normal exuberance and slick jumping were there for all see, it is just that he simply got tired in ground much softer than ideal.
And the icing on the cake was to see him eat up last night and this morning, and for his legs to be cold and A1 when Clifford checked him out this morning.
So it is now all systems go for Cheltenham, where I genuinely feel that he goes as the one to beat yet again.
That race yesterday will have done him the world of good, and we will give you weekly updates on his progress in this column.
Paul Nicholls
26 January 2014
Latest News
0 Comments
"Sam rode him exactly how we had discussed beforehand. The horse travelled well, jumped well, quickened going to the last, and then got tired on very bad ground on the run-in."
Last edited:
Caledonia
Well-Known Member
Given how well the Fly ran, think it's looking very likely BB will be facing Annie at Chelts!
Dobiegirl
Well-Known Member
As they are owned by 2 different people its rather down to the owners to call this one, if she was mine I would be going for the Champion Hurdle.
Caledonia
Well-Known Member
Sure it's down to the owners, but I doubt Ruby will get off the Fly, and who are they going to put on Annie? Because if she doesn't go for the World, can you see PN sticking with Sam if Ruby's spare?
Make no mistake, how well these horses run and win has a lot to do with Ruby.
If she was mine I'd rather have Ruby up in the World than someone else up in the Champion.