Big Bucks And Al Ferof Likely To Be Out For The Season

ft9

That's a blow for Nicholls. Wonder what's up? Seemingly Andy Stewart said he has a tiny tear in one of his legs, and nature is the best healer.
http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/paul-nicholls-big-bucks-and-al-ferof-likely-to-be-out-for-the-season-171212-9.html

Paul Nicholls found a problem with his stable stars at evening stables tonight. Here he issues a statement...


I have some bad news to report.

At evening stables tonight, we discovered a problem with both Big Buck's and Al Ferof.

I am not in a position to go into great detail at this point, but I can confirm that Big Buck's will not be taking up his engagement at Ascot on Saturday and Al Ferof will not be running in the King George.

And both are unlikely to run again this season.

I would appreciate it if the media and press did not contact me at this point.

When I do have more to report, I will be doing it here.

Tony Calvin will be immediately informing the press, and the relevant parties, of this statement tonight.

Overthelast

Every season we lose a few along the road. Hopefully, they'll both make full recoveries.

On a positive note, the long distance hurdle races will now become just that. Races.

RichieLawlor

Put a plaster on his leg and he will still beat that bunch

Juwwi

It will be interesting to see which race Quevega goes for now.

ft9

I reckon Paddy Power will refund ante post bets, they are decent for that sort of thing.

Colonel Sanders

Strange one, Al Ferof was very strong for the KG earlier today. Then all of a sudden 2 of the big guns from one of the strongest stables in racing are out for the year with very little details given

ft9

Nicholls has said there is no threat to their careers and will give an update on Tues or Wed.

Colonel Sanders

ft9 wrote: »

Nicholls has said there is no threat to their careers and will give an update on Tues or Wed.

Well hopefully we'll see both again but Big Bucks isn't getting any younger.

RichieLawlor

Colonel Sanders wrote: »

Strange one, Al Ferof was very strong for the KG earlier today. Then all of a sudden 2 of the big guns from one of the strongest stables in racing are out for the year with very little details given

Sounds like they either fought with each other or the stable was attacked. Defo more too it than a cut leg

ste2010

I would have though big bucks would have had a room with walls coated in the most plush cushions with all the hay and Evian water a horse could ask for at this stage...some say he used to send out his servant horses to train for him

Colonel Sanders

RichieLawlor wrote: »

Sounds like they either fought with each other or the stable was attacked. Defo more too it than a cut leg

I was thinking more than meets the eye too, huge co-incidence. Al Ferof was less than 5.0 for the KG on Betfair at lunch

Could be me over reacting of course!!

Oscars Well.

Lads, did a bet for Big Bucks to go unbeaten this season. Will it be void or a loser if he doesnt run again?

ft9

Oscars Well. wrote: »

Lads, did a bet for Big Bucks to go unbeaten this season. Will it be void or a loser if he doesnt run again?

I have a bet on BB and SS to go unbeaten this season, and I think the terms were they both must run at least twice. So I imagine it will be void. That's with PP btw.

He has only said 'unlikely'. He might be back for Aintree.

ft9

What price did you get on him to be unbeaten for the season Oscar? I see Will Hill have him 5/2 to go unbeaten for the remainder of his hurdling career.

Oscars Well.

ft9 wrote: »

I have a bet on BB and SS to go unbeaten this season, and I think the terms were they both must run at least twice. So I imagine it will be void. That's with PP btw.

He has only said 'unlikely'. He might be back for Aintree.

Hopefully, onto live chat on WillHills now asking them what the story is

Oscars Well.

ft9 wrote: »

What price did you get on him to be unbeaten for the season Oscar? I see Will Hill have him 5/2 to go unbeaten for the remainder of his hurdling career.

Was 7/4 for this season, probably would have been better value backing him for each of his runs. Hindsights a wonderful thing

ft9

Let us know. Did you place that before or after his reappearance?

UrbanSea

Bet will stand but only be settled after the end of the NH season I'd imagine

ft9

UrbanSea wrote: »

Bet will stand but only be settled after the end of the NH season I'd imagine

Yes, obviously the bet will stand for the season.

Oscars Well.

Yeah, only did it last week. Live help said "outright bets are accepted on the principle that they will be declared as a loss if the selection does not participate." Fcuk it anyway, I'll start praying the injury isn't as bad as they think :rolleyes:

ft9

Oscars Well. wrote: »

Yeah, only did it last week. Live help said "outright bets are accepted on the principle that they will be declared as a loss if the selection does not participate." Fcuk it anyway, I'll start praying the injury isn't as bad as they think :rolleyes:

That's bollix, I would not accept that.

If they settle it as a loser I'd be asking them who beat him:)

Oscars Well.

I'll kick up a fuss alright, but it's a decent amount of money I put on so I'd say they'll stand their ground.

ft9

Hopefully he will run again so. Aintree is a long way off.

Oscars Well.

ft9 wrote: »

Hopefully he will run again so. Aintree is a long way off.

Please God, I'll light a candle in the church for him.

Slattsy

You's might all think I'm a bit of a bollox but ya gotta love Karma.

Nicholls has been acting the **** recently.

From a racing point of view its extremely disappointing but from my own personal view of things I'm delighted for him.

Oscars Well.

Slattsy wrote: »

You's might all think I'm a bit of a bollox but ya gotta love Karma.

Nicholls has been acting the **** recently.

From a racing point of view its extremely disappointing but from my own personal view of things I'm delighted for him.

Not a fan of Nicholls either, but horses as high profile as Big Bucks are great for the sport. The publicity he gets will draw more people to horse racing which can only be a good thing.

ft9

Slattsy wrote: »

You's might all think I'm a bit of a bollox but ya gotta love Karma.

Nicholls has been acting the **** recently.

From a racing point of view its extremely disappointing but from my own personal view of things I'm delighted for him.

You said it. It's the horse I'm disappointed for and the owner.

BQQ

First thing I thought when I heard was Barbed wire fence.

Terrible news whatever happened. Hope they'll both be back as good as ever.
Pretty sick that anyone could be happy about this whatever they think of Paul Nicholls.

Oscars Well.

BQQ wrote: »

First thing I thought when I heard was Barbed wire fence.

Terrible news whatever happened. Hope they'll both be back as good as ever.
Pretty sick that anyone could be happy about this whatever they think of Paul Nicholls.

Hopefully before the end of the season! Updates on the two horses will be released in the next two days, although statements from the respective owners aren't exactly encouraging.

Overthelast

Slattsy wrote: »

You's might all think I'm a bit of a bollox but ya gotta love Karma.

Nicholls has been acting the **** recently.

From a racing point of view its extremely disappointing but from my own personal view of things I'm delighted for him.

Rumours that a grey haired bespeckled gentleman wrapped in a yellow & green scarf was seen running from the stable early this afternoon have been greatly exaggerated...! Oh dear, apologies, couldn't resist.

mdwexford

Worst news possible for racing fans.

Gutted.

Sammo13

Tough news for all racing fans... but it just shows how hard it is to get them back year in year out.. BB was going for 5 in a row... Him and Kauto, Ruby has been spoiled rotten.. hopefully the two of them return ok, Al ferof only 8 next year and BB 10, so plenty of good days ahead, hoefully..

rossom

Rotten news, more so for Big Bucks as that could easily be the end of his career. Huge shame if it turns out to be.

RichieLawlor

They specifically say that Al Ferof did a tendon whereas Big Bucks ha a 'tiny' tear on one of his legs.

Something more to this

hucklebuck

RichieLawlor wrote: »

They specifically say that Al Ferof did a tendon whereas Big Bucks ha a 'tiny' tear on one of his legs.

Something more to this

Definitely is imo. Didnt some other yard not too long ago have an incident where an ex employee injured a horse?

AdpRo

Seems strange alright.

I did a double of Big Bucks and Sprinter for Cheltenham a while ago, I am assuming an ante-post double is the same as a normal double and the bet will now be a single on Sprinter if Big Bucks doesn't make it?

ArmaniJeanss

Weetabix wrote: »

Seems strange alright.

I did a double of Big Bucks and Sprinter for Cheltenham a while ago, I am assuming an ante-post double is the same as a normal double and the bet will now be a single on Sprinter if Big Bucks doesn't make it?

You assume wrong unfortunately, its a losing bet.

RichieLawlor

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

You assume wrong unfortunately, its a losing bet.

Boards own Geoff Shreeves

Colonel Sanders

I remember when Danehill died in Coolmore. Very little detail but plenty of rumours.

It was all hushed up but apparently a few lads in Coolmore were shown the door (rumour was at least one employee was negligent in looking after the horse)

Thing is rumours are just that. Rumours. If there is more to this (and I'm suspicious there is) we may never hear the full story

Frankie Lee

http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/latest-news/paul-nicholls-losing-big-bucks-and-al-ferof-is-a-major-disappointment-but-thats-part-of-the-game-181212-9.html

All fairly well clarified, I know plenty of other yards would have made a killing laying.

ft9

Frankie Lee wrote: »

http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/latest-news/paul-nicholls-losing-big-bucks-and-al-ferof-is-a-major-disappointment-but-thats-part-of-the-game-181212-9.html

All fairly well clarified, I know plenty of other yards would have made a killing laying.

That laying game is dodgy business when your involved in racing.

Arctic89

Definitely something sketchy going on here but as another poster pointed out, I doubt we'll ever find out what.

Hope Big Bucks come back as good as ever next year, age would appear to be against him though.

MoscowFlyer

Apparently Willie Mullins is quoted as saying that Quevega will still only run in the Mares Hurdle and not the World Hurdle even with the absence of Big Bucks.

Overthelast

Frankie Lee wrote: »

http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/latest-news/paul-nicholls-losing-big-bucks-and-al-ferof-is-a-major-disappointment-but-thats-part-of-the-game-181212-9.html

All fairly well clarified, I know plenty of other yards would have made a killing laying.

That's why those other yards will never make it to the top of their sport/business.

mdwexford

MoscowFlyer wrote: »

Apparently Willie Mullins is quoted as saying that Quevega will still only run in the Mares Hurdle and not the World Hurdle even with the absence of Big Bucks.

Seems pretty spineless.

RichieLawlor

Quevega a huge drifter now on betfair for the stayers. Any price you like so seems confirmed she will run in the stupid race

Colonel Sanders

mdwexford wrote: »

Seems pretty spineless.

On one hand there was Big Bucks to contend with in the WH, on the other the mares race was easy pickings

With Big Bucks out if the way I know where she'd be heading if I was lucky enough to own her.

klairondavis

I can understand their reluctance with Big Bucks around but there's no excuse now given his absence. It's not like she's a doubtful stayer and a line through Voler La Vedette gives her the beating of every likely runner.

It's not bloody flat racing. A defeat is not going to affect her value as a broodmare. The same connections have another likely contender for the mares race in the form of Twigline (yard also have Tarla and Glens Melody in different ownership). Why not have a go? Not much to lose and a lot to gain.

ft9

I'd take anything from Mullins Yard with a pinch of salt.They spouted on about Thousand Stars going for the Champion and ended up in the World Hurdle. Same owner too.

MoscowFlyer

Mullins said on Tuesday Quevega will again be primed for the mares-only race which she has won for the last four seasons.

"She'll be going for the OLBG and not the World Hurdle," the County Carlow handler told OLBG.

Full Story

Just makes no sense to me going for a race that you have dominated for the past 4 years when there is a bigger, better race there for the taking.

The pros outweigh the cons by a considerable amount and I'd say this with or without Big Bucks

ste2010

The first thing I thought of when I heard this news was Tarla for the mares quevega for the world hurdle...
I can see a whole load of things shuffling now for other trainers...there will probably a whole load of "we might consider going 3 in march" now that the steam engine is out