Horse Racing: Grand Crus in vintage run

We've waited three years, but there now appears to be a very credible threat to Big Buck's in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

The bookmakers still make Paul Nicholls' dual champion a short price to make it three in a row in March but with Grand Crus now around the 3-1 mark, those willing to take on the favourite have a viable alternative.

Cheltenham's card was billed as Festival trials day and while in the past it has been hard to see any of the winners going on to score in March, that was certainly not the case on Saturday.

As well as David Pipe's grey there was Wishfull Thinking, Bobs Worth, Local Hero and The Giant Bolster, who will all be returning to Prestbury Park with leading claims in their respective races.

Grand Crus began the season on a rating of 126 and while his days in handicaps were over after an easy win at Haydock, it was still a great sight to see him powering down the hill still on the bridle - for a ten-length win.

The Cleeve Hurdle has been used as a stepping stone to World Hurdle glory by Inglis Drever and Big Buck's in recent years, and Pipe said: "Most dreams are shattered here but he's done that exceptionally nicely. I've always held him in the highest regard and he's proved it today. Today was the World Hurdle without Big Buck's, and let's hope we both get there in good form.

"I wouldn't swap him for anything - even Big Buck's."

Nicky Henderson already houses one of the Gold Cup favourites in Long Run, yet Punchestowns was supposed to throw himself back into the mix with a win in the Argento Chase.

But the 11-10 favourite jumped sketchily throughout and the front-running veteran Neptune Collonges was not for catching under a brilliant ride from Tony McCoy, with Tidal Bay second.

Paul Nicholls said: "He's got an entry for the National and an entry for a Gold Cup, but we'll see how he is and have a chat about the future."

Henderson was left scratching his head over Punchestowns, but in Bobs Worth he has a very likeable young horse, whose win in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle now makes him a leading player for the race of the same name at the big meeting.

Philip Hobbs' Wishfull Thinking may only be a novice but, despite having jumping problems in the past, he was spring-heeled on his way to victory in the Murphy Group Chase. "Richard (Johnson] was of the opinion that if the ground is good at Cheltenham he could get three miles for the RSA," said Hobbs.

Steve Gollings is also dreaming of Festival glory for Local Hero after his win in the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial."He came here with questions to answer and he has done that," said Gollings.

The Giant Bolster also gives former jockey David Bridgwater a big chance of a Festival winner in the RSA Chase after his success in the Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase under top weight.

In Ireland yesterday, Golden Silver finally got the better of Big Zeb at the fifth time of asking in the Boylesports.com Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown.

Golden Silver's success spearheaded a phenomenal afternoon for trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend, with the former landing four of the remaining five races on the card.

Townend was aboard three of them - Gagewell Flyer, Raptor and Some Target.