The £260,000 Ladbrokes World Hurdle (G1) featured 14 horses aged 4 and up traveling 3 miles over 12 hurdles. 50-1 Cross Kennon set the early pace while being stalked the whole way by 10-11 favorite Big Buck's the whole way. After the second last fence, Cross Kennon tired allowing the heavy favorite to inherit the lead. 7-2 second choice Grands Crus rallied late from well back but Big Buck's held him off by 1 3/4 lengths in 5:50.80. It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to 8-1 Mourad third. Big Buck's has won this race three consecutive years.
Winning trainer Paul Nicholls said, "I was nervous today because he'd never run on the ground. He wins by staying, but class won it for him today. We were worried about the ground and the tactics, because we didn't think they'd go a gallop. It was an awesome display by both the first two and I think it's a career best for Big Buck's."
Jockey Ruby Walsh added, "He´s an aeroplane. I dropped my stick halfway to the last hurdle - it was my own fault, I was trying to see where they were behind me. I was half-watching what I was doing. I knew looking at it was going to be tactical. He can stretch in front but he´s dug deep. He´s a wonderful horse, he helped me out here today."
