Why does everybody seem to be writing off Big Bucks? I've had a go on him for this race at 4/1 and can't believe that sort of price is available for this legend. Yeah fair enough he's been off injured but he wouldn't even need to come back at his best to win this race no matter how good the opposition appears
Bad form from Nicholls and Andy Stewart regarding Big Bucks' jockey. I could understand if they jocked off D jacob for Ruby, AP or Barry G as they are in a different league to all the others but to give the ride to Sam TD is wrong and suggests that they have no confidence in Daryl. Daryl is capable and as stable jockey he deserved the right to be given an opportunity to ride the legend in a race having ridden him work & schooling. I have a feeling that Daryl maybe on his way out. Anyone remember Sam Thomas? That aside the race is falling apart with Solwhit gone and At Fishers Cross not being able to step up to the plate it seems Big Bucks only has to turn up to win.
Paul Nicholls explains why Sam Twiston-Davies will be riding Big Buck's this season, and not number one stable jockey Daryl Jacob... I wasn't going to comment on the fact that Sam Twiston-Davies is going to ride Big Buck's this season, but having heard of some ill-informed comments doing the rounds I felt that I had to put the record straight here. The big question for me was how keen was Daryl to ride the horse? The simple fact is that Daryl has never given me the impression that he was mad keen to ride Big Buck's. If he had, then he could have been on the horse in the Cleeve Hurdle. End of story. And with Andy's full blessing and agreement. So there is no need for anyone to feel sorry for Daryl, or read anything wider into this decision. Tough and difficult decisions have to be made in this game, and I won't shy away from them. We have obviously been discussing Big Buck's' comeback for a few weeks at Ditcheat and it became clear to me that Daryl had doubts about riding him in the Cleeve, and that immediately put a big doubt in my mind. It was the lack of him being positive more than anything else. So we talked it over at length and Daryl explained how he viewed the ride, almost as if he saw it as something of a poisoned chalice. He explained that, in his opinion, Big Buck's was part of a past generation here at Ditcheat - the last remnant of the Kauto Star and Denman era, if you will - that he has never been part of that, and his focus was on the future. It was as if he regarded the ride as being in a no-win situation. If Big Buck's won, it was all down to the horse. If he lost, and that phenomenal unbeaten run with it, it was down to him. That is no way to approach any race. Daryl has his eyes set firmly on horses of the future and that means continuing to ride the likes of Zarkandar, whom he gets on with so well. And if he had committed to Big Buck's, then who is to say that my other owners wouldn't have seen that as a snub. So it was his mind-set that actually made up my mind up for me. If there is any negativity or doubt in a jockey's mind, then in my book he effectively rules himself out of the reckoning there and then. I then approached Ruby and AP, who have both won on the horse, but neither would or could commit. So myself and Andy talked it over at some length these past few days, and on Friday I rang Daryl and Nick to tell them of our decision. It wouldn't surprise me if Daryl didn't feel a sense of relief at the news. And late on Friday we then told Sam that we would like him to ride the horse. For Sam it is a totally different scenario, and in many ways a win-win situation. He is really looking forward to riding Big Buck's, which is what we want. For those who think that this is a big snub for Daryl - and plenty obviously do - then they should read this and think again. And don't forget that he isn't the retained jockey at Ditcheat, he is our main jockey. There is a difference. He will never ride all of the horses, and at no point did he think that he would. And nor will anyone in the future. For example, Nick rides Irving and Noel rides Silviniaco Conti. This kind of decision is nothing new. But Daryl will still ride a lot of good horses for us, and ride them well, too. And if people say that Nick should have been the next choice of jockey for Big Buck's, then they are barking up the wrong tree there, too. Nick knows that he is our second jockey for the second meetings, and he is doing extremely well. And I imagine that the prospect of riding our horses at Doncaster on January 25, if needed - in the Skybet Chase, and possibly Hinterland and others there too - suits him just fine. So it would be wrong to blow this out of all proportion, and feel sorry for anyone. There has been no falling out - Daryl will continue to ride for Andy and has the confidence of all our owners - it is just simply that a decision had to be made. And we made it. I am not saying any more on this subject, and now I just want to focus on getting a wonderful racehorse back on the track. That's the most important thing.
Well it looks like Annie Power deffo goes Champion Hurdle after the Rich Ricci interview. Leaves Ruby to ride Boston Bob so may as well get on EW now. Also, odds on Sam Twisters being Nicholls' No1 next season ? Surely he can't be happy with Jacobs not fancying the Bucks ride ?????
So Stewart has made a "business decision" in the case of Big Bucks. What he means by that is beyond me! First of all, Nicholls says that Jacob felt he was on a hiding to nothing if he rode Big Bucks- and that he didn't show much enthusiasm anyway. He also states that he has "no retained jockey"- just stable jockeys. Was Nicholls' sentiment...Sod you, if you don't want to ride a great stayer. I'll get someone else? Or did he feel that Jacob wasn't good enough anyway- and made no effort to persuade him? The latter is probably nearer the truth. Whatever the truth, any jockey who doesn't want to ride a horse like Big Bucks must have a defective gene somewhere. Isn't it what jockeyship is all about ie. riding good horses? And they don't come much better than Big Bucks! This story has become a farce; likewise Stewart's intention to have four runners in the World Hurdle. Perhaps he's after a load of place money! Despite Nicholls' assertion that Ditcheat has no 'retained jockey,' Jacob's days may be numbered. Any bets Sam Twiston-Davies is the retained jockey next year? Sorry, I mean stable jockey!!
Have they actually stated that this is the intention? Seems a bit ridiculous, but then again I guess there isn't really anywhere else to go with any of them... Are the Pertemps or the County restricted to horses with certain ratings? If not I guess if they wanted to spread out a little they could try Salubrious in the Pertemps (would have to get him qualified without raising his mark much though) and Saphir du Rheu raising the weights a bit in the County? I presume that if BB and Celestial Halo are both still in training next year then at least one of the other two will go chasing?
Without wanting to sound harsh - they have both tried and failed already, doubt we will see either of them jumping fences again.
I meant if CH and BB are in training, then won't either Salubrious or Saphir du Rheu try chasing? Neither of them have chased according to the RP site?
Ah sorry, misunderstood your question. You're probably right, can't remember the statures of the 2 horses (i.e. whether they are chasing types) but Nicholls loves his Chasers so he wouldn't be the one to hold them back
This is shaping up to be a really good race, assuming Annie Power goes here and I think she will. The Ricci interview didn't make me think any different to be honest. Great horse he undoubtedly is, I'd be pretty sure Big Bucks has never faced anything as good as Annie Power before. In fact it's safe to say in some of his World Hurdles he didn't have that much to beat at all. For example in his four World Hurdles the second placed horses were, respectively, Punchestowns, Time for Rupert, Grands Crus and Volver la Vedette. With the possible exception of Grands Crus, who was a mighty fine hurdler (now a shadow of his former self), the other three aren't exactly world beaters. I'm therefore of the opinion he may have to reach higher levels than he ever has to give the mare weight and a beating. Add in the fact he's coming back from injury it'll be a heck of an achievement to do so. But that's the great thing about Big Bucks is that we've never yet got to the bottom of that enormous engine he has! Some horses have came at him looking threatening but it's almost like the big fella is simply adding in some dramatic effect to his wins before kicking on again and saying 'Ha, you thought you had me there didn't you..!' I just wonder if this time the result will be the same if Annie Power with Ruby onboard is sat on his tail coming to the last??!
I'm a little confused.... Ruby said .... http://www.racinguk.com/news/article/25048/walsh-eager-to-see-bucks-back "You'd cut your right hand off to ride a horse like Big Buck's. That's a choice I made. "He's an exceptional horse, he's a standard-bearer in jump racing and he's an exciting ride for Sam Twiston-Davies." If Annie Power lines up against BB in the World Hurdle then surely Ruby would have picked the most likely winner to be on?
Paul Nicholls will want a jockey to commit and with Rubys situation being main stay for Willie Mullins he will feel that he will have to ride a Mullins horse which is likely to be Annie Power. I am not sure the horse will beat Big Bucks anyway.... if she was in any other stable she would go for the Champion Hurdle...... Daryl Jacob may not be on his way out... Its a kick in the teeth for him though. Mick Fitzgerald was on Channel 4 the other week saying that it happened to him on occasions when he was stable jockey, where he missed out on plum rides but he stuck to the task and in the end he was rarely jocked off! Nicholls is pretty ruthless with his jockeys but then again he has a healthy bunch all competing for rides and there's nothing like healthy competition. None of them are on Rubys level though are they? I miss seeing him ride on Channel 4 every week... the guy is just class.
Fingal Bay was a really exciting novice hurdler I liked of Mr Hobbs. Was vying for favouritism with Simonsig for the Neptune prior to injury I recall. His chasing career was disastrous. He could be a live outsider if Hobbs can get him back to his very best.
