Cheltenham Festival
Venue: Prestbury Park Date: 16-19 March
Coverage: Live text commentary and daily reports on BBC Sport website & mobiles. Live daily coverage on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra (1300-1400) and 5 live (1400-1600) and television coverage on Channel 4 (1230-1615)
**Big Buck’s will be the shortest-priced favourite of the Cheltenham Festival when the 2009 World Hurdle winner defends his crown on Wednesday.**The seven-year-old has won his last six starts and is confirmed among 14 runners at the final declaration stage for the marathon 3m feature.
Big Buck’s is around 4-7 to repeat his success of last season for trainer Paul Nicholls, with Ruby Walsh riding again.
Meanwhile, Poquelin and Tranquil Sea are confirmed for the Ryanair Chase.
Big Buck’s was a brilliant winner of the World Hurdle 12 months ago beating Punchestowns after a brilliant tactical ride from Walsh, and has been an easy odds-on winner three times since.
Karabak, trained by Alan King, was three-and-a-half lengths away when runner-up to Big Buck’s last time, and will take on the defending champion again.
Another horse to be respected is Tidal Bay, the 2008 Arkle winner who returned to form with a course success in January.
Last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite Cousin Vinny is also declared after a brief stint over fences, while Mouse Morris’s 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition features among a number of other Irish entries after an exciting season, and there are no notable withdrawals.
“Big Buck’s has done everything and I respect him. Tidal Bay is interesting as I was never happy watching him jump fences but he is a real contender back over hurdles”
Sentry Duty’s trainer Nicky Henderson
In the Ryanair, Tranquil Sea, a rare Irish-trained winner of the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November, will vie for favouritism with Poquelin, a Nicholls gelding who collected the Boylesports.com Gold Cup.
Nicholls sounded a note of caution over Big Buck’s, unbeaten in six starts over timber since unseating Sam Thomas in the 2008 Hennessy Gold Cup.
The Somerset-based trainer said: "He is a real old character at home and I am sure he will get himself beat one day by pulling himself up.
“The better the race, the better he is and I can’t say that he is a banker due to his character. I have a feeling Tidal Bay will run well but on form we will win - but one day he will get himself beat.”
Owner Andy Stewart added: "He sets the standard on form and I think Tidal Bay and Karabak have a lot to find. He is ever so well but 4-7 is a stupid price as he could step on a stone or something.
“I couldn’t be happier with him but he will get himself beat one day as he is a quirky sort.”
Nicky Henderson will be represented by Sentry Duty who has his stamina to prove tackling three miles for the first time.
Henderson said: "The race might be short of pace as Sentry Duty won’t be making it, which in a way set things up for Big Buck’s.
"Big Buck’s has done everything and I respect him. Tidal Bay is interesting as I was never happy watching him jump fences but he is a real contender back over hurdles.
"Sentry Duty will be there at two and a half miles and maybe at two and three-quarters but after that, we will be into unknown territory.
“He needs to be very, very fresh and I had no intention of finding out if he stays before the race.”