Those punters that like to bet odds-on will be licking their lips in anticipation of the latest outing for the remarkable staying hurdler Big Buck`s who is set to head to Cheltenham on January 28 in search of his 15th successive victory as he attempts to win the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle, a contested he first made his own back in 2009, writes Elliot Slater.

Paul Nicholls` brilliant nine-year-old appears every bit as good if not better than ever this season, the three-time Ladbrokes World Hurdle winner having already sauntered to victory at Newbury in November when handing out a five-length beating to stable companion Five Dream in the Grade 2 Sportingbet Long Distance Hurdle, before repeating the feat at Ascot three weeks later when beating the same rival by eight-lengths in the Grade 1 Lough Derg Long Walk Hurdle. As Cheltenham tips go, he looks to be a shoo-in.



In each of the last two seasons Big Buck`s hasn`t been seen prior to Cheltenham after racing in December, but this term Nicholls feels the horse needs a little more work to keep him on the top of his game and race fit for an attempt at a record breaking fourth stayers` hurdle crown at Prestbury Park on March 15, a race for which he is currently trading as the odds-on 4/7 favourite in the ante-post market. Anyone looking at Betfair Cheltenham 2012 markets will find it difficult to oppose him.



Punters looking to back the son of Cadoudal to win the Cleeve Hurdle will have to be prepared to take odds as short as 2/7 or even 1/4, but with most of his rivals rated at least two stone inferior it would certainly be a major shock if Ruby Walsh`s mount was to see his winning run come to an end. Irish raider Mourad looks the main danger, Willie Muliins` charge having finished a fine third to Big Buck`s in last year`s World Hurdle but has been beaten on all four starts since.