AFP - Big Buck's defended his World Hurdle title here Thursday to reverse a trend of losing favourites in the feature races at this week's Cheltenham Festival.

The Paul Nicholls-trained star made short shrift of the opposition in the staying hurdlers' championship to justify his cramped starting price of 4-6.

The result not only gave Nicholls a timely boost ahead of Friday's Gold Cup where he fields the first two favourites Kauto Star and Denman but also offered some welcome respite to punters.

Backers have had to dig deep in their pockets after watching the likes of Dunquib, Go Native, Garde Champetre, Riots of Passage, Punchestowns, and Master Minded in Wednesday's Champion Chase fail to justify their market domination.

Ruby Walsh and his supporters never had a moment's worry as he travelled like a champion on the heels of the leading group with the field headed by former Gold Cup winner War of Attrition.

Walsh loosened the reins to send Big Buck's up to take on Time For Rupert and despite being far from foot perfect at the final flight he cruised up the hill to score by an easy three quarters of a length.

Walsh, who rides Kauto Star in the Gold Cup, said: "He's a special horse. He's absolutely bolted in.

"He's a horse that doesn't want to be in front too long. He's got a terrific engine and that was a good round of jumping, he jumped better today than he ever has done."

Nicholls added: "He's a hugely talented horse. It's unbelievable. I worked the horses on Saturday morning - Poquelin, Master Minded, Kauto Star, the lot. They all worked well but he worked like a hairy goat.

"That's just him and I lost confidence a bit and I was sweating beforehand.

"He never hit a flat spot today. We were keen to get him fresh and you have to get into his head a bit more than anything. He's very good."

Elsewhere on 'Ladies Day' David Pipe celebrated a double with Great Endeavour in the Byrne Group Plate and Buena Vista finally clicking at the Festival at the sixth attempt in the Pertemps Final.

There was also success for one of jump racing's most popular figures, former champion jockey Jonjo O'Neill, who sent out Alberta's Run to land the Ryanair Chase with Tony McCoy in the saddle.