Paul Nicholls pays tribute as legendary staying hurdler Big Buck’s dies aged 23

SportHorse Racing LEGENDARY stayer Big Buck’s, who won four World Hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival, has died aged 23. His trainer Paul Nicholls led the tributes to the great horse, saying: “He was as good as any horse I’ve ever trained.” Big Buck’s, arguably the greatest staying hurdler of all time, has died aged 23 Credit: PA:Press Association Big Buck’s is the only horse to win the Stayers’ Hurdle four times Credit: Getty Images – Getty Having struggled over fences, Nicholls switched him back to hurdles after a fall in the Hennessy Gold Cup in 2008 and the horse embarked on an incredible 18-race winning streak. He is the only horse to win the World Hurdle – now the Stayers’ – four times and he won 10 Grade 1s overall during a stunning career. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! Owned by the late Andy Stewart, he formed part of a golden generation for 14-time champion trainer Nicholls alongside Kauto Star, Denman, Master Minded and Neptune Collonges. Nicholls said: “Ability-wise he was probably as good as anything I’ve ever trained, it’s just a shame he couldn’t jump a chase fence. “He was a wonderful horse for a wonderful owner who deserved to own a great horse like that. Andy enjoyed the whole journey and shared it with everybody. “The horse had a brilliant life and had a great time with us and then a great time with Mike and Lucy Felton in retirement, but sadly time caught up with him. “I was very lucky to have him at the same time as Kauto Star, Neptune Collonges, Master Minded and Denman. He was definitely as good as any of them. “Over hurdles he was invincible. Andy said I was bonkers, but going back over hurdles was the best thing we ever did. Most read in Horse Racing “History tells you how good he was and Cheltenham, Aintree, Newbury, Ascot – if there was a big staying hurdle race, he won them all – all those Grade 1s on the trot, what a horse.” He became a Cheltenham Festival legend in winning the Stayers’ four years in a row, but he also won four Liverpool Hurdles and three Long Walks. Comment now