Bookies delight As Big Bucks Wins World Hurdle From Punchestowns

Big Bucks and Punchestowns produced one of the races of the week in the Ladbroke World Hurdle, but it was Big Bucks and Ruby Walsh who came out on top to win for trainer, Paul Nicholls.

The two had always ran prominently but it was Punchestowns who stole a march three from home and looked every bit the winner at that point. However, Big Bucks, who first of all shook off the challenge of hot favourite Kasbah Bliss before getting after the leader. By the second last the two were neck and neck but then a mistake by Big Bucks almost cost him the race, but he proved conclusively that he loves a fight and under the urgings of the magnificent Ruby Walsh he out fought his rival to the line.

Amazingly, Big Bucks was being trialled as a chaser in the early part of the season and he came close to winning the Hennessey Gold Cup before dumping his then jockey, Sam Thomas at the last fence.

Powerstation, who attracted plenty of each way money before the start of the race came third.

For Kasbah Bliss it was a huge disappointment, he never got a significant blow in although he was given every chance, he ended up finishingh fourth. Kasbah Bliss was also the second so called banker of the meeting to go down and as such made it a good day for the Bookies.

Result

• 1st - Big Bucks, R Walsh, 6-1
• 2nd - Punchestowns, B Geraghty, 10-3
• 3rd - Powerstation, A Macnamara, 25-1
• 4th - Kasbah Bliss, C Pieux, 5-6 Fav

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