Racing: Big Buck's will head to straight to the Ladbrokes World Hurdle in March, a race he is bidding to win for the third successive season.
Connections had been considering running him on Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham at the end of the month.
However writing in his exclusive blog at www.betfair.com/paulnicholls, the champion trainer said: "I have had a discussion with Andy Stewart this morning and we have decided that Big Buck's will sidestep the Cleeve Hurdle and go straight to the Cheltenham Festival.
"Taking in the Cleeve Hurdle was our original plan. But he will be given a break instead and his campaign with now mirror last season's, with the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals as his next targets.
"I just thought it best to let everyone know as soon as possible."