Friday, February 3, 2012

Sports World

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Buck's looks top dollar after latest imperious victory Posted: 03 Feb 2012 07:48 AM PST The sensational Big Buck's is reported to be in fine shape after his latest success in the Grade 2 Rewards4Racing Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham at the end of January and is bang on target to attempt a fourth successive victory in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on March 15, writes Elliot Slater. Landing a remarkable 15th successive victory over hurdles the Andy Stewart-owned nine--year-old was, (as usual), sent off at prohibitive odds for the three-mile contest and, as usual jockey Ruby Walsh was more than happy to bide his time on the great horse. The pace began to noticeably quicken at the third from home where David Pipe's Dynaste began his move, injecting a further burst of speed at the penultimate flight that for a few strides gave the slightest hope for those opposing the favourite that he might just be in trouble. Fans of Stan James should remember this. As always though when push comes to shove Big Buck's just seems to find an extra gear, and as he lengthened his stride on the home turn it soon became obvious that he was certain to reel in the brave front-runner who he duly joined and passed at the final obstacle before storming clear up the famous hill to score by a comfortable seven-lengths, prompting Nicholls to suggest that this latest effort might very well have been one of the best of the Cadoudal gelding's glittering career. Those placing a VC bet should bear this in mind. Already the hottest ante-post favourite of the whole four-day Cheltenham Festival extravaganza prior to this latest effort, Big Buck's was duly cut from a best price of 8/13 to as short as 4/9 now with some leading layers, although bits and pieces of 4/7 and 8/15 can still be found for looking. It would take a very brave man indeed to bet against the star staying hurdler of this generation not winning again and claim a fourth World Hurdle on his next outing.

Featherbed set to face step up in class Posted: 03 Feb 2012 02:35 AM PST The rapidly improving handicap hurdler Featherbed Lane looks set to take his chance in the Grade 2 Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock in mid-February on his way to a tilt at either the Coral Cup or County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival a month later, writes Elliot Slater. Terry Warner, owner of the exciting seven-year-old, suggested that trainer Philip Hobs has earmarked the Haydock event (set to be run this term under the banner of the Betfred Goals Galore Trial Hurdle), after seeing his charge fail by the narrowest of margins to complete a hattrick of wins this term when beaten a nose by the progressive mare Swincombe Flame in the Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at Kempton in January. Those following the best Cheltenham festival betting will have been impressed. Having shown promise in his two previous seasons without having made any great impression, Featherbed Lane has improved significantly this term, starting out off a mark of 120 and winning on his seasonal bow at Ascot in November, beating the decent Decoy by two-and-a-half-lengths. A 9lb rise in the weights failed to prevent the gelded son of Saddler's Hall following up at Aintree three weeks later when slamming Donald McCain's Reindeer Dippin by 14-lengths to earn a further 15lb rise in his official mark to 144. At Kempton everything looked set for a third successive win as the James Best-ridden market fancy stormed to the front before the last, but after going a length clear on the run-in he began to idle and opened the door for the relentless Swincombe Flame to come and nab him on the post in the very last stride. Now a 16/1 co-second favourite for the Coral Cup and a 20/1 shot for the Vincent O'Brien Handicap hurdle back at the minimum trip, Hobbs is keen to see just how far his inmate has improved and clearly believes that the Rendlesham Hurdle, set to be run on Featherbed Lane's preferred testing ground, will provide him with all the answers he needs.

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