Cheltenham Festival:Big Buck's cemented his position as the top staying hurdler in the business as he achieved back-to-back victories in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle. Paul Nicholls' charge had dug deep to see off Punchestowns in the three-mile contest last year, but barely had to hit top gear this time as he strolled away with the Grade One feature.
Ruby Walsh’s mount was hard on the bridle throughout and although Time For Rupert put up a gallant effort in second, he could never put the 5-6 favourite under enough pressure.
War Of Attrition made most of the running but Time For Rupert took over turning into the straight, although Walsh could be seen travelling ominously well.
The Festival’s winning-most jockey had a leisurely look around for dangers but they were non-existent and after a slightly scrappy jump at the last, Big Buck’s was pushed out with hands and heels for a three-and-a-quarter-length win.
Powerstation was back in third, the same position he filled 12 months ago.
Walsh said: “He’s a special horse. He’s absolutely bolted in. He’s a horse that doesn’t want to be in front too long. I knew the ones I fancied, like Karabak, would follow me though.
“He’s got a terrific engine and that was a good round of jumping, he jumped better today than he ever has done.”
Paul Webber was delighted with Time For Rupert’s run as the six-year-old posted a career-best effort. He said: “Absolutely no excuses — he’s run a cracking race and it’s a thrill to get that close to Big Buck’s.
“William (Kennedy) has given him a copybook ride. He’s always given us the impression that he would improve by 7lb or 8lb from his previous run which he has achieved but we are still 7lb short of Big Buck’s.
“If he’s OK, I would be keen to go to Liverpool with him because by the time Punchestown comes round, the going will be getting a bit quick.”
Eamon O’Connell, trainer of Powerstation, said: “He’s our flag-bearing horse and he’s unbelievable for us because I only have 13 in the stable. We struggled to get him here but he travelled very easily turning in, after that we were just hoping for the line.
“He’ll probably go to Punchestown now, although the owners are quite keen to look at the French Champion Hurdle.”
Albertas Run had given Tony McCoy his second winner of the week when running out an impressive winner of the Ryanair Chaseearlier in the day. It was the nine-year-old's second win at the Festival, having previously won the RSA Chase in 2008.
Deep Purple helped set the pace with Albertas Run but Walsh had him in his sights on the favourite Poquelin turning into the straight.
There was a bit of trouble in running at that point as Davy Condon tried to sneak up Walsh’s inside on J’y Vole but found the door firmly shut.
McCoy kicked on again approaching the last and the 14-1 chance shot four and a half lengths away from the jolly. J’y Vole narrowly lost out in the battle for second but defied her long odds with a big run.
McCoy said: “That was nice. He’s a good horse, he won the SunAlliance (RSA) a few years ago and I’m just delighted for Trevor (Hemmings, owner). He’s not here as he’s not well, he is having some problems with his foot.
“Myself and Jonjo kind of asked Trevor if we could run him in the Ryanair instead of the Gold Cup as we thought he had a good chance and Trevor, being the man he is, was all on for it. I’m delighted for him and I hope his foot is sore from jumping up and down!”
David Pipe dominated the third day as Buena Vista and Great Endeavour combined to provide the trainer with a memorable double.
Pipe had been out of luck with his earlier runners this week but Festival stalwart Buena Vista (16-1) broke the barren spell as he finally struck gold at the sixth attempt in the Pertemps Final.
The nine-year-old made just about every yard under Hadden Frost and kept on strongly up the hill to score by five lengths and a head from Prince Erik and Chamirey, avenging his defeat by Kayf Aramis in the same race 12 months ago.
Buena Vista also tackled the Champion Bumper in the past as well as finishing third in the 2006 Supreme and running in the Arkle three years ago.
The well-backed favourite Alfie Sherrin was knocked back when making a mistake at the flight approaching the top of the hill and he never recovered, while last year’s winner Kayf Aramis plugged on gamely to finish fifth.
Danny Cook landed a first Festival triumph when guiding Great Endeavour (18-1) to a length-and-a-quarter verdict over favourite Sunnyhillboy in the Byrne Group Plate.
Great Endeavour was always cruising behind pacesetting Mister McGoldrick and The Sawyer and Pipe heaped praise on his secretary Gail Harrison for the decision to run the gelding in this.
He said: “Gail’s worked for us for as long as I’ve been on the planet and was instrumental in the decision to go for this race. (Owner) David Johnson has been a fantastic supporter of Pond House and National Hunt racing and I’m delighted for him.”
Donald McCain, successful with Peddlers Cross on Wednesday, produced the Trevor Hemmings-owned Ballabriggs to put up an immaculate jumping display in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup.
Richard Harding always had top-weight Ballabriggs (9-1) poised on the heels of the pacesetters and launched him past stablemate Khachaturian before just holding on to score by half a length and three-quarters from Faasel and Galant Nuit.
McCain said: “Watching the last 200 yards was agony because he had his race won and had been on his own for a long time, but fair play to Richard who did the right thing in kicking on.”
Copper Bleu has a date at Punchestown next month after landing the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chaseby three and a half lengths from Othermix. In a race run at a frenetic gallop, where several of the leading fancies blundered their chances away, Philip Hobbs' charge hugged the inner and stayed on much too strongly for his closest pursuers under Richard Johnson.
Hobbs revealed that the 12-1 winner had overcome a breathing problem, adding: “He’d developed a breathing problem in the last two months and so I decided to tie his tongue down today.
“The plan was to be handy but Richard said he was flat out all the way, after taking the inner route and happily avoiding any trouble.He won at Punchestown last year and he’ll go back there, I would think.”
Day Three results
Cheltenham 1.30, Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase
1 Copper Bleu (R Johnson) 12-1
2 Othermix (P J Brennan) 50-1
3 The Midnight Club (Paul Townend) 16-1
4 China Rock (N P Madden) 9-1
20 ran
Cheltenham 2.05, Pertemps Final
1 Buena Vista (H Frost) 16-1
2 Prince Erik (R M Power) 16-1
3 Chamirey (W Hutchinson) 28-1
4 Cross Kennon (A O'Keeffe) 16-1
24 ran
Cheltenham 2.40, Ryanair Chase
1 Albertas Run (A P McCoy) 14-1
2 Poquelin (R Walsh) 11-4 Fav
3 J'y Vole (D J Condon) 28-1
13 ran
Cheltenham 3.20, Ladbrokes World Hurdle
1 Big Buck's (R Walsh) 5-6 Fav
2 Time For Rupert (W Kennedy) 16-1
3 Powerstation (A J McNamara) 33-1
14 ran
Cheltenham 4.00, Byrne Group Plate
1 Great Endeavour (Danny Cook) 18-1
2 Sunnyhillboy (R P McLernon) 6-1 Fav
3 From Dawn To Dusk (R Johnson) 20-1
4 Mister McGoldrick (J M Maguire) 33-1
24 ran
Cheltenham 4.40, Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase
1 BallaBriggs (Mr R O Harding) 9-1
2 Faasel (Mr J Guerriero) 20-1
3 Galant Nuit (Miss N Carberry) 11-2 Fav
4 Ma Yahab (Mr Harry Challoner) 14-1
24 ran