English Racing:Big Buck's once again stamped his class with an authoritative display in the Racing UK Long Walk Hurdle at Newbury. Last season's World Hurdle hero was sent off at 1-2 to record his sixth successive victory over timber, but there were a few anxious moments as Ruby Walsh became animated turning for home.
However, the Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old responded to his rider's urgings and quickened up smartly in the testing ground after taking the final flight in front.
Karabak stayed on tenaciously to fill the runner-up spot, three and a half lengths adrift, while the strong-travelling Diamond Harry could finish only third.
Walsh said: "He's a very, very good horse - he's a great stayer. "He handles the ground, I wouldn't say he loved it but not too many horses do. He only does enough, but I guess that's what you want with three-mile hurdlers.
"He was very deliberate over fences and took him a long time to get from A to B. As soon as he switched back to hurdles he turned them inside out."
Nicholls said: "He won't have enjoyed that ground but he's a class horse and he's got through it.
"I will have a look at the Cleeve Hurdle but I wouldn't want to run him if it was very heavy or he might leave his race behind for the Festival."
Nicholls continued: "He's not always the most straightforward and I was worried it was going to turn into a tactical nightmare, but he just keeps so much in the locker and just does enough.
"He looks rock-solid after today and I'm not sure he really enjoyed the ground. I'm sure he likes to bounce off better ground.
"From the day he walked into the ground I just loved him as he had class and presence - we obviously thought he was going to make a high-class chaser.
"As it's turned out it's the best thing that's happened, him going back over hurdles, as the other two lads (Kauto Star and Denman) are doing really well.”
Reve De Sivola gave Nick Williams back-to-back successes in a pulsating renewal of the Racing UK Free Today On Sky 432 Challow Novices' Hurdle.
Sporting the colours of last year's winner Diamond Harry, the 15-8 second favourite did not do his chances any favours with a couple of sloppy jumps, but he began to make ground on the leaders approaching the final flight.
Finian's Rainbow, the 13-8 favourite, held a narrow advantage jumping the final flight.
But he almost knocked that obstacle to the ground, and it fleetingly looked as though 40-1 chance Restless Harry was going to take the Grade One prize.
But Reve De Sivola found top gear inside the last 100 yards and got up to score by half a length.
*Officials at Haydock, meanwhile, have been forced to abandon Wednesday's meeting, with parts of the track still frozen.
Clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright initially inspected the track at 3pm on Monday but after checking the track again 24 hours later, he was left with no option but to call off proceedings.
“Unfortunately we’ve had to abandon as parts of the back straight are still frozen,” said Tellwright. “It’s disappointing but there is no real prospect of improvement.”