Grand Crus was theimpressive 10 length winner of the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday, by 10 lengths. He will now take on Big Buck’s in the World Hurdle at The Cheltenham Festival in March. Game on!
Big Bucks off to Cheltenham
Speaking to reporters trainer David Pipe said; “Most dreams are shattered here but he’s done that exceptionally nicely, I’ve always held him in the highest regard and he’s proved it today. Today was the World Hurdle without Big Buck’s and let’s hope we both get there in good form. I wouldn’t swap him for anything – even Big Buck’s.”
Paddy Power cut Grand Crus from 10-1 to 3-1 and eased Big Buck’s out from 4-7 to 4-5. Last year the bookies let Big Buck’s go out to evens, as they were winning big at the Cheltenham Festival but this year maybe he has a genuine contender?
Certainly that was impressive and Grand Crus came up the hill powerfully, but he didn’t have Big Buck’s breathing down his neck. An unbeaten horse with such good form will be a very different proposition. The World Hurdle has been dominated by Big Buck’s and the young pretender could deny him another victory.
Would I take 4-5 about Big Buck’s now, no. I would wait until the declarations are made before having a bet, but I think that this match will be close if it happens and 3-1 is some value for the World Hurdle, but I wouldn’t write off Big Buck’s not by any stretch of the imagination. I think he will be tough to beat, but if anyone can, Grand Crus is the one.
Game On!
Grand Crus Update………David Pipe says this morning;
“All is good with him. He ate up last night and he seems fine this morning, It’s every trainer’s and jockey’s dream to have a horse like him and that’s what we’re all in the job for. He’s still only a six-year-old and he’s lightly raced, so it’s very exciting. We went to Cheltenham full of hope, but you can’t expect a performance like that. He was going into Graded company for the first time, which is a lot different to running in handicaps, but he was extremely good. The ground in March will be what ever it’s going to be, but Cheltenham always do a good job watering. I think he is better on softer ground and he has a high knee action, but safe ground is all he really needs. The ground wasn’t that soft on Saturday and he certainly wasn’t too bad on it there. Let’s hope both he and Big Buck’s make it to Cheltenham in March and we can get our horse there in the same kind of form. If we finish second to Big Buck’s it will be a fantastic run and if we manage to beat him, it will be amazing.”
