Aintree - Thursday

Why does the thread have to be a slagging match? You can't expect to put down the achievements of a record breaking horse and not get any kick back.

However, I definitely agree regarding him running over 2m4f, particularly as he's now broken the record of wins. Next season they should consider going for the Aintree hurdle or perhaps the Hattons Grace and a match up with Hurricane Fly. 2m would be too short but he is definitely not short of pace and I genuinely think he'd beat all comers at 2m4f. The only issue is he's gonna be getting on a bit next year and could be on the wane.
 
Bar the Bull said:
4 World Hurdles
17 jumps races unbeaten.
10 Grade 1 wins
4 Liverpool Hurdles
No horse has gotten to within 1.5L of him since he kicked off his sequence.

I think we are witnessing something really special in his career. I would love him to jump fences, or step down to 2.5 miles, but I understand why connections won't do it.

Iris's Gift and Limestone Lad were two gems who were disappointing over fences.

Big Buck's connections feel they tried fences and failed. Why would they deny their horse a real shot at greatness (20+ wins, 5 World Hurdles, etc.) in favour of a venture that failed in the past?

I think it is a tough decision. I would probably run him in the Saturday hurdle race, but I understand why they are doing it.
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Tell me, why is it that you think connections won't step down or try anything vaguely out of the ordinary?
 
Hardly worth falling out about. Yesterday, I got more joy from seeing Hunt Ball prove that he could make the step up. He might not be top class but the joy of his connections is a pleasure to watch and vastly preferable (in my opinion anyway) to the pontificating of pot hunting millionaires.
 
Bar the Bull said:
Maybe they think he would be beaten?
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Exactly.

And that is why he will, for me, never be anything like a great horse.

Look at what Azertuyiop did - tried 3 miles in the King George, his runner up to Isio under a huge weight. Look at Well Chief - an amazing performance in the VC off 178. Hurricane Fly and Moscow Flyer often raced around 2m4. Kauto raced at every distance possible. Denman produced incredible weight carrying performances interspersed with the most consistent Gold Cup record you could find.

The above are all great horses. Big Bucks is a failed chaser who doesn't have the speed to run 2m4 (or else you would think connections would run him at that distance). Great horse my big hairy backside.
 
LUKE said:
Hamm certainly has a right to his opinion.
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Of course he has, but when he, or anyone, presents an opinion as fact ("Few people look on Big Buck's very fondly") they can expect to be called on it when it flies in the face of the available evidence.
 
I'm all for good racing and would love to see him in tomorrows race so don't think im a BB whopper or anything to that extent but

They have a 3mile winning machine, I don't see why they should change anything

He will keep on winning the owners nice money, the trainer valuable prize money and the horse unbeaten

3M hurdling is as unattracive to me as jumping gets and his dominance and career path does bore me but there really is no impetus for them to change what is a winning formula
 
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Big Buck's is amazing and the 2nd most popular horse in training by a country mile. How anybody can fail to enjoy him is beyond me but each to their own.

I find the 'campaign' point perplexing as well. I love the Denman running in handicaps argument. Was this not because he was so one dimensional that he had to run left handed on a galloping track with an emphasis on stamina. That left the Hennessy as the only pre Christmas option in this country. Controversial I know, but I don't think his campaign was as 'brave and bold' as some are suggesting. They had few options.
 
Hamm said:
Exactly.

And that is why he will, for me, never be anything like a great horse.

Look at what Azertuyiop did - tried 3 miles in the King George, his runner up to Isio under a huge weight. Look at Well Chief - an amazing performance in the VC off 178. Hurricane Fly and Moscow Flyer often raced around 2m4. Kauto raced at every distance possible. Denman produced incredible weight carrying performances interspersed with the most consistent Gold Cup record you could find.

The above are all great horses. Big Bucks is a failed chaser who doesn't have the speed to run 2m4 (or else you would think connections would run him at that distance). Great horse my big hairy backside.
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What a load of crap . No doubt Arkle was not a great horse because he was only a moderate hurdler .
 
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