Odds-on favourite Big Bucks today headed 16 who stood their ground for next week's Ladbrokes World Hurdle.
Paul Nichols' seven year-old is currently a top priced 81-13 to retain his crown after winning his two starts this dseason in impressive style.
The biggest danger to what many consider their "Festival Banker" appears to be Howard Johnson's Tidal Bay, who has been bacekd into 7-1 second favoruite after making a succesful switch back to the smaller obstacles after failing to progress over fences.
Johnson
Johnson saddled the great Inglis Drever to a record three victories in the Grade One event and the County Durham trainer hopes that the enigmatic Tidal Bay can emulate his illustrious former stable mate with victory in the three-mile hurdling championship next Thursday.
Johnson said today: “I had been thinking about putting Tidal Bay back over hurdles because he wasn’t having a cut at his jumps. He was just backing off a bit.
“I was pleased with the way he won the Betfair Cleeve Hurdle, he has a good record round Cheltenham. He’s in good order and as long as they don’t put too much water on and the ground is good, he’ll be fine.
“He’s good but he’s no Inglis Drever, you only get one like him and it was some achievement to win three Ladbrokes World Hurdles. It would be good to win another one with Tidal Bay but as long as he comes back safe and well, that’s the main thing.”
