Is More Of That capable of threatening the winning record of Big Buck’s?

Big Buck’s may have now retired, but his feats in the National Hunt game should not be forgotten. Not only did he set a record of four successes in the World Hurdle, but also a record across the history of National Hunt racing of 19 race victories in a row.

Both of these achievements will be exceedingly tough to trump, but More Of That still looks open to stacks of improvement, despite victory in the 2014 World Hurdle.

The development of More Of That has already been immense in a short space in time, improving from being rated 130 on his handicap debut to winning a World Hurdle within four months.

More Of That remains undefeated in five career starts and his World Hurdle victory was a first over 3m, which is a division now devoid of a superstar.

Big Buck’s has retired and Annie Power looks set to change career plans, either for a drop in trip to the Champion Hurdle or more likely a step up into the chase ranks and a possible tilt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Multiple winners have certainly not been a rarity, with Baracouda, Inglis Drever and Big Buck’s having all successfully defended World Hurdle titles and More Than That must be well fancied to triumph again in 2015.

Meanwhile, he settles well into his races off the pace, jumps impeccably to maintain momentum and does seem to find an extra turn of foot when asked to challenge.

In a few of his handicap races in particular, More Of That looked beat with ground to make up jumping the final hurdle, but then found something on the run in.

The fact that Tony McCoy is likely to be his regular pilot moving forward too will only work in his favour if getting into a battle in the closing stages of races.

Whether he can seriously pursue Big Buck’s winning streak remains to be seen, but he has to be regarded as a lofty favourite to win the 2015 World Hurdle.