Horse Racing: Grands Crus must be in the running for banking Big Buck's World Hurdle

Big BUCK'S has dominated the Ladbrokes World Hurdle for the last two years but Grands Crus can spoil his bid for a record-equally third victory in the stayers' showpiece at Cheltenham.

Only Inglis Drever has notched up a hat-trick in the three-mile heat and many view Big Buck's as a banker bet this week in a division that lacks many other established stars. However, David Pipe looks to have uncovered a really nice horse in Grands Crus and he is the only one who can realistically trouble the reigning champion.

On the bare ratings, the six-year-old will have to find at least 5lb to equal Big Buck's but he has been improving at a rate of knots this term and is still on the upgrade.

Wide-margin wins at Cheltenham and Haydock late last year made handicaps a closed route for the French-bred grey, and he made light work of a switch to Pattern company with a ten-length romp in the Cleeve Hurdle.

Admittedly, that was not the strongest race but he could do little more than win, picking it up two out before easing clear without coming out of second gear.

Grands Crus will obviously have to turn in the performance of his life if he is to arrest the ten-race winning run of Big Buck's, but the favourite is far from straightforward and who knows what will happen if Pipe's runner really serves it up.

The Ryanair Chase has been the aim for Poquelin since he took the Vote AP Gold Cup back here in December and the long-term planning can pay off.

Paul Nicholls' eight-year-old won the same race back in 2009 and duly headed for this heat at last year's Festival only to find his challenge derailed by Albertas Run.

He was hardly disgraced in finishing second that day and Nicholls again opted to put him away following his handicap success last time.

Poquelin will be primed to perfection for this race again and he looks a much better horse this year.