2012 Cleeve Hurdle Odds and Betting Preview: Immortal Big Buck's cannot be beaten

CHELTENHAM, UK - Big Buck’s is already immortal when it comes to National Hunt race horses, but the French-bred nine-year-old bids for his fifteenth consecutive victory over hurdles at Cheltenham on Saturday. The three-times World Hurdle winner runs in the Cleeve Hurdle, and is expected to do the job with the minimum of fuss according to the quotes from the bookmakers.

The Cleeve Hurdle is one of the top trials for the World Hurdle, and tends to attract the best staying hurdlers in Europe. It was in this race back in January 2009 where Big Buck’s won his second race over hurdles in Britain, beating the highly-rated Punchestowns, who he would later go on to beat once again at the Cheltenham Festival. There are 12 hurdles to be jumped in total and the horses have to stay the distance of three miles, which finishes with a stiff incline next to the grandstand. As it is just a Grade Two race, it means that horses like Big Buck’s who have won Grade One races have to carry a penalty in it.

Big Buck’s has looked as awesome as ever this season, winning the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and most recently winning the Lough Derg Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot. Perhaps that is because he is in his peak and he is getting even better with experience, but some would argue that he has simply scared off his rivals. Inglis Drever is sadly no longer with us, Kasbah Bliss has been competing on the flat and both Time For Rupert and Grands Crus have both been sent on chasing campaigns for connections.

Andy Stewart’s crack hurdler is best-priced at 2/7 with bet365, Paddy Power and William Hill to win his second Cleeve Hurdle on Saturday, meaning that for every £70 that punters bet, they stand to gain just £20 profit on their wager. In previous years he has had a gap before the Festival, but he appears to thrive on racing and he should be able to come clear of this field under jockey Ruby Walsh. Paul Nicholls’ stable star has over-taken Bula’s record for consecutive wins, and is now chasing down Sir Ken, who ran up 16 straight wins in the middle of last century.

The vast majority of racing fans would love to see Big Buck’s rattle up another career win, and they have the chance to back him at 8/13 for the World Hurdle with William Hill and Paddy Power. Today’s ante-post plunge was on Carlito Brigante, who was cut into 33/1 from 50/1 by Stan James after getting a tip from Tom Segal in the Racing Post.

The second-favourite for the Cleeve Hurdle is the Willie Mullins-trained Mourad at 6/1 with Paddy Power. Mourad is now seven-years-old so should be in his prime, but he was beaten by over four lengths by Big Buck’s when the paid last met in last year’s World Hurdle. If he makes the trip over from Ireland he definitely has a sound chance of placing, especially given his course form and that Grands Crus is no longer around on the hurdling scene. He was beaten by Voler La Vedette at Christmas time, so either the mare has improved significantly since last year or simply Mourad is not good enough to topple Big Buck’s. He could pick up the pieces if the favourite were to fall however.

Dynaste is put in at 8/1 by bet365 for the connections that took the race last year, but David Pipe’s youngster was well beaten by Big Buck’s last time out at Ascot, and it is hard to make excuses for that run.

Next comes Five Dream at 16/1 with Stan James who has twice finished runner-up to Big Buck’s this season, but just seems to run past beaten horses. Still, he is now paying his way for connections in a division that lacks strength in depth, as he did not take well to fences.

Oscargo is at 20/1 but surely cannot win, and 25/1 Restless Harry has twice faced Big Buck’s and twice been beaten by the champ.

Cross Kennon could attract each-way money at 33/1 with Stan James, and it is worth remembering that he finished fourth in last year’s World Hurdle. His chasing career has also been disappointing and his owners will surely be happy with a small portion of the prize-money this weekend.

Kayf Aramis, Whatuthink, Across The Bay and Hard To Swallow are available at 33/1 or bigger and will struggle to finish within ten lengths of the favourite.

The Cleeve Hurdle is due off at 3.40pm GMT on Saturday 28 January and is live on Channel Four.

2012 Cleeve Hurdle Odds