Horse racing: Big Buck’s in record breaking bid at Aintree

Big Buck’s will attempt to create racing history when he chases his 17th consecutive victory in the BCG Partners Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree a week tomorrow.

The nine-year-old equalled Sir Ken’s record of 16 straight jumps victories at the Cheltenham Festival last month, when he also became the first horse to win four Ladbrokes World Hurdles.

Owner Andy Stewart confirmed the Paul Nicholls-trained superstar is on target for the Grade One contest over an extended three miles, which he has won for the last three years.

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“Big Buck’s is running in the Liverpool Hurdle, as is Celestial Halo,” said Stewart. “Big Buck’s has been absolutely fine. Obviously he had a race at Cheltenham as they all did, but there have been no problems at all and Ruby [Walsh] will take the ride on him at Aintree and I imagine Daryl Jacob will ride Celestial Halo.

“Big Buck’s has never been beaten at Aintree because he ran in a chase race the year before he won his first Liverpool Hurdle and, despite hitting every fence in the back straight, he still managed to get up and beat the RSA Chase winner Albertas Run.

“Hopefully this year we will be able to make it four Liverpool Hurdles.”

Another giant of the turf, Sir Henry Cecil’s Frankel, is one of 20 entries for the JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on 19 May.

The unbeaten superstar has had this race is his first target ever since the end of last season. Cecil has also entered Bullet Train and Jet Away.

Excelebration, behind Frankel on several occasions last term, could have his first start since joining Aidan O’Brien.

The Ballydoyle handler has also entered his vanquished World Cup favourite So You Think and Windsor Palace.

Richard Hannon has won the last two renewals with Paco Boy and Canford Cliffs and is strongly represented by Dubawi Gold, Strong Suit and Libranno.

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Cityscape, so impressive in Dubai, is a possible as is Roger Varian’s filly Nahrain, who narrowly lost her unbeaten record in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Godolphin’s Saamidd could make his reappearance while Worthadd, second when trained in Italy last year, could make his first start for Sir Mark Prescott.

Meanwhile, Richard Hughes is leaving any possible next step to his legal team after the British Horseracing Authority published the reasons for rubberstamping the 50-day ban he was given in India. He was suspended in February for “not following the trainer’s specific instructions and thereby not allowing his mount Jacqueline Smile to run on its merits”.

“My legal team has the reasons and are looking at them,” said Hughes.”

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