3-in-a-row for brilliant Big Buck's

The Ladbrokes World Hurdle produced a fantastic finish as Big Buck's out-battled chief market rival Grands Crus from the last flight.

After a steady early pace Ruby Walsh sent Big Buck's to the front early in the home straight, but dropped his whip on the run to the final flight as Grand Crus came on his inner to challenge.

Big Buck's responded to Walsh's hand and heels drive up the run-in to comfortably hold his nearest persuer.

A relieved Walsh said afterwards: "He's an aeroplane, but I made a bad mistake as I dropped my stick halfway to the last hurdle.

"It was my own fault as I was trying to see where the others were behind me so I was only half-watching what I was doing.

"I knew I had loads of horse left, but I knew it was going to be tactical and that Grands Crus was going to try to follow me.

"This horse has matured so much mentally you can stretch him in front and he has dug deep.

"He had an entry in the Arkle but I've always thought he could run a big race in the Champion Hurdle.

"I was lucky enough to get away with it today.

"He's a wonderful horse and he's got me out of trouble."

Walsh added: "In a hurdle race he's just as unbeatable as they come - he's like (American great) Cigar on the Flat.

"The guys riding against him knew exactly what to do and had their tactics spot-on, but it didn't matter.

"He's just different, he has so much class as you're riding a Champion Hurdle-Gold Cup horse in a stayers' hurdle."