Daryl Jacob may miss out on Big Buck's ride
Andy Stewart and Paul Nicholls have yet to decide who will ride Big Buck's this season, but Daryl Jacob could miss out.
Last Updated: 07/01/14 4:45pm
Nicholls will consider possible plans with Stewart in Barbados this week, with Big Buck's set to return from absence in the Cleeve Hurdle back at Cheltenham on January 25.
Now 11, the gelding was prevented from bidding for a fifth straight Ladbrokes World Hurdle and continuing his sequence of 18 unbeaten hurdling runs with a leg injury.
Big Buck's did, though, complete a racecourse gallop at Exeter last month and is expected to undertake another one before his reappearance.
With Ruby Walsh, on board for 16 of those successes, no longer Nicholls' jockey and Tony McCoy, who deputised the other two times, likely to be claimed for a JP McManus runner, interest is increasing.
"I'm looking forward to talking it over with Paul with a rum punch," said Stewart.
"Paul has obviously got Daryl Jacob, Nick (Scholfield) and he can use Sam Twiston-Davies as long as his father hasn't got any runners in there, so there are lots of options.
"Ruby might decide he wants to ride Big Buck's and not Annie Power, or Annie Power might go for the mares' race or the Champion Hurdle instead.
"Daryl has done very well with Celestial Halo both at Auteuil and at Newbury and I'm happy for Paul to make the decision.
"After all, I thought it was an absurd idea when he decided to run the horse over hurdles after he unseated Sam Thomas in the Hennessy.
"The one thing I can say is we won't be hiding it under a bushel and whoever's riding him in the Cleeve will be lined up to riding him in the World Hurdle."