Big Buck's in great shape for Ascot Paul Nicholls reports his star staying hurdler Big Buck's in top form although the champion trainer has slight reservations about going right-handed in Saturday's BGC Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot. Paul Nicholls' Ladbrokes World Hurdle hero impressed on his seasonal reappearance at Newbury on Hennessy day, and completed his preparations for the weekend when working this morning. "He couldn't be better. He worked with Kauto Star this morning and pulled up bucking and squealing and full of it as he always is. He is very well and I'm very happy and just hope it's on," said Nicholls. Big Buck's races right-handed on Saturday and the trainer hopes he will be able to cope. "I wouldn't run him over fences right-handed. He always runs down the fences to his left but has got better over hurdles. I don't think it will make much of a difference. He may jump away to the left but down the straight it won't matter." "It's probably not ideal but there are no other races for him. We'll put up with that, and everything after Saturday is left-handed." Big Buck's faces a clash with the promising Diamond Harry at Ascot and it's something Nicholls is relishing. "On last year's form he (Big Buck's) is the best three mile hurdler around. If Diamond Harry beats him it's because Diamond Harry is better than him. We don't know that yet but it's a challenge and it's good for racing to have challenges like that."
