'Bomb proof' Big Buck's stretches run to 18

Big Buck's was the star turn at Newbury on Saturday, Paul Nicholl's brilliant nine-year-old stretching his record unbeaten run to 18 to set himself up for a fifth World Hurdle triumph at Cheltenham next March. Sent off as the 1-12 favourite Big Buck's never had to get out of first gear as he despatched his three rivals in the Grade Two Long Distance Hurdle with complete contempt. His jockey Ruby Walsh told Channel 4 television: "He's a wonderful horse, bomb proof, and the closest thing to a racing certainty. "He travelled beautifully - brilliant!" Big Buck's has a reputation for being something of a lazy character when at home at Nicholl's west of England stable, prompting Walsh to reflect: "He's a bit of an odd ball, but all geniuses are a bit strange..." Big Buck's winning run started at Cheltenham on New Year's Day in 2009. He overtook the previous record of consecutive wins of 17 held by Sir Ken in the 1950s on the opening day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree in April.