The Cadoudal gelding has won 10 consecutive races over timber, but was originally bought to go two-mile chasing before trainer Paul Nicholls performed a masterstroke when reverting to the smaller obstacles after the horse unseated Sam Thomas in the 2008 Hennessy Gold Cup.
Regularly linked with a return to fences and thought of as the natural successor to stablemates Kauto Star and Denman in staying chases, Big Buck's looks set to be given the chance to dominate the long-distance hurdle division for years to come.
Stewart said "I think it will be highly unlikely that while he's at the top of his game as far as hurdling is concerned you'll see him over fences. We're going to try and keep on winning the World Hurdle and it's highly unlikely you'll see him chasing next year.
"I would say it would be 50-50 for him never to jump a fence again. There's only so many races in a horse and we're going to keep it down to four a season. As long as everything goes well we'll go to Cheltenham, we'll go to Liverpool and we'll start again next year at Newbury on Hennessy day."
The eight-year-old is best-price 3/5 (Sportingbet) to complete a hat-trick in the 2011 World Hurdle.
Big Buck's was the only odds-on winner at the 2010 Festival and one of the beaten odds-on "bankers" from last year, Dunguib, is set for his first run this season. Dunguib's name appeared amongst the five-day entries for Naas on Saturday where he could make an appearance in the Grade Three Limestone Lad Hurdle.
In what could be a very interesting affair, the eight-year-old may face the likes of former Champion Hurdle winner Sublimity or the highly regarded Donnas Palm or Shinrock Paddy.
However, a decision on Dunguib's participation is not confirmed according to his trainer, Philip Fenton, who may decide, along with connections, to give the horse his seasonal bow in the BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle the following Sunday.
People were quick to knock Dunguib after he failed to land a blow behind Hurricane Fly and Solwhit at the Punchestown Festival in April, while some had earlier questioned him when he failed to justify his lofty reputation in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Considering that Dunguib was only just over a length off Menorah at Cheltenham and the latter is now a leading market principal for the Champion Hurdle this March, the Dunguib doubters may have made their mind up a bit too soon.
There is no doubting that the son of Presenting was a shade disappointing at Punchestown, but it has to be remembered that he was then a novice taking on the leading hurdlers in the country and it was on the back of a challenging season.
Fenton had earmarked for a while now that his intentions were to start Dunguib off after Christmas and have him peak in the latter half of the season and it will be interesting to see how he fares when he returns to action.
Taking on the likes of Hurricane Fly and Solwhit may prove a tough task for his first run of the season, especially when those two are battle-hardened and match fit, so Naas is probably the more favourable option and it would be foolish of anyone to be ruling Dunguib out of contention for top honours just yet. The eight-year-old can be backed at best-price 16/1 (Bet365) for the 2011 Champion Hurdle.
Meanwhile, bookmakers have introduced Magnanimity into their RSA Chase betting following his Killiney Novice Chase victory at Leopardstown on Sunday.
The seven-year-old can be backed at best-price 20/1 (Stan James) for the RSA, whilst the beaten favourite in the Grade Two contest, Jessies Dream, has been eased in the betting for the Festival race to best-price 16/1 (Victor Chandler).
After the race, Dessie Hughes, trainer of Magnanimity, said: "At Leopardstown when you jump the last it is a long way up that hill so I hadn't given up. He's 100% honest. We'll go for the Dr PJ Moriarty Chase next and he will have an entry in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham."
Jessies Dream will now head straight to Cheltenham following his surprise defeat, but trainer Gordon Elliott has lost none of his faith in David Johnson's gelding and expects an improved display in March:
"He's come out of the race fine. It was just one of those days and we're putting a line through it and we're looking forward to Cheltenham in March," said the County Meath handler.
"He's better than that. Things didn't work out for him and it was a messy race, but we're looking forward to bigger and better things."
Big Buck's looks "bomb proof" in his attempt to win a third World Hurdle
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