Hot favourite Big Buck’s (2/7) will face six rivals in the Lough Derg Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.

The legendary eight-year-old is likely to be the horse to beat this weekend once again as he aims to extend his unbeaten record to an amazing 14 races.

Paul Nicholls’ charge has not lost since the Hennessy Gold Cup of 2008 and is one of the most celebrated stayers of recent times.

Big Buck’s, who has three World Hurdle wins to his name at Cheltenham, has won the Long Walk for the past two years, although both of those successes came at Newbury.

Nicholls had also initially entered Celestial Halo in the race but he will now not run with stablemate Five Dream (33/1) instead representing the Ditcheat stable.

David Pipe will ride 5/1 shot Dynaste, meanwhile, who impressed at Haydock last time out, while Sparky May (20/1) could be a lively outsider after finishing fourth behind Big Buck’s at Newbury last year.

Pettifour (40/1) is back in action following a lengthy absence out while another horse making a return to hurdles is Restless Harry, currently a 14/1 shot in the antepost betting.