Big Buck’s, widely regarded as one of the most outstanding staying hurdlers ever, has died at the age of 23. The champion belonged to the late Andy Stewart and was a central figure in a golden era for trainer Paul Nicholls, whose stable also housed legends such as Kauto Star, Denman, Master Minded and Neptune Collonges. Initially, connections believed Big Buck’s possessed the potential to become a top‑class chaser, but a tumble at the final fence in the 2008 Hennessy Gold Cup forced a return to hurdling, a decision that ultimately defined his career.
From that point on he never looked back, cementing his status as a hurdling icon. His record is staggering: he captured the race now known as the Stayers’ Hurdle a record four times, won the Liverpool Hurdle on four occasions and triumphed three times in the Long Walk Hurdle.
The partnership with jockey Ruby Walsh was especially beloved; Walsh often described how the horse would settle into a flat spot before unleashing a devastating turn of foot to win. Speaking to the Press Association, Nicholls said, "In terms of ability he was probably as good as anything I’ve ever trained. It’s just a shame he never quite managed the chase fences.
He was a wonderful horse for a wonderful owner who deserved to have a great horse like that. Andy enjoyed the whole journey and shared it with everybody." He added, "The horse had a brilliant life and enjoyed his time with us and later with Mike and Lucy Felton in retirement, but sadly time caught up with him. I was very lucky to have him alongside Kauto Star, Neptune Collonges, Master Minded and Denman.
He was definitely as good as any of them." Big Buck’s was one of the last living links to that halcyon period for the Ditcheat‑based trainer. After reverting to hurdles, he amassed a then‑record 18 consecutive National Hunt victories, a feat only surpassed by Altior in recent years.
The question that still haunts Nicholls is how far the horse might have gone over fences had he been a natural jumper. "He won the graded race at Aintree over fences, jumped 18 fences and did it in 18 different ways and still won," Nicholls recalled.
"It made me think he was a certainty in the Hennessy and he was unlucky that day, but he just wasn’t a natural jumper of a fence. If Kauto Star hadn’t been around at that time we probably would have persisted over fences and he had the ability to win a Gold Cup. If he had won the Hennessy that day it would have definitely given us a headache and it would have been interesting where he would have ended up." Nevertheless, over hurdles he was virtually unbeatable. Andy Stewart once joked that Nicholls was "bonkers" for sending him back to hurdling, but the decision proved to be the best ever made for the horse.
"History tells you how good he was – Cheltenham, Aintree, Newbury, Ascot – if there was a major staying hurdle race, he won it. All those Grade 1s on the trot, what a horse," Nicholls said. Big Buck’s became a fixture on Thursdays at the Cheltenham Festival, his characteristic flat spot often prompting nervous gasps from the crowd before he surged up the hill under Walsh’s guidance.
When asked to pick a single race from his glittering résumé, Nicholls chose the fourth‑straight World Hurdle victory – a day‑three feature where he beat a deep field, edging out the Irish challenger Voler La Vedette. "His fourth World Hurdle sticks out as being very special," Nicholls explained.
"But we had so many great days with such a brilliant horse and we were all very lucky to be associated with him." Beyond the statistics, Big Buck’s left an indelible mark on the sport. His consistency, tenacity and the dramatic way he would settle before launching a decisive finishing kick made him a fan favourite and a benchmark for staying hurdlers. His legacy lives on not only in the record books but also in the memories of every spectator who witnessed his flat‑spot surge and in the trainers who continue to aspire to the standard he set. In retirement, he enjoyed a peaceful life under the care of Mike and Lucy Felton, who provided a loving environment for the once‑dominant champion.
Though his passing marks the end of an era, the reverence with which Paul Nicholls, Andy Stewart’s family and the wider racing community speak of him ensures that Big Buck’s will be remembered as a paragon of stamina, spirit and sheer class for generations to come.