The last of those at Haydock Park was in the Bristol Novices' Handicap Hurdle, carrying top weight with Michael Dickinson riding.
In the first he finished a distant fourth in the Persian War Novices' Hurdle at Chepstow, a race run in the mist on heavy ground.
This was the most valuable and competitive event Silver Buck ran in all season, and he finished fourth of the twenty runners behind Mr Kildare.
He suffered a defeat when brought down at Windsor, then lined up for the final of the Embassy Premier Chase, run over two and a half miles at Haydock Park.
Night Nurse fought back, and landed in front over the final fence, but Silver Buck proved the better on the long run in and passed the winning line two and a half lengths clear.
On his final appearance of the season, Silver Buck finished third in the Sun Alliance Chase at the Cheltenham festival, run on heavy ground.
In early March Silver Buck appeared in a small race at Hereford, which was to be his prep for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Silver Buck's connections eventually withdrew him from the Cheltenham Gold Cup on the morning of the race, but this was due to other circumstances.
He started the 9/4 favourite in the betting, ahead of the Fulke Walwyn trained Diamond Edge, the front-running Irish mare Anaglog's Daughter, and old adversary, Night Nurse .
Silver Buck took the lead from Anaglog's Daughter four fences from home, but was being hard pressed by Night Nurse when that rival unseated his rider at the last.
[7] Silver Buck appeared once between Kempton Park and Cheltenham, when winning the Jim Ford Challenge Cup at Wincanton by three lengths from Artifice.
The general consensus was that three and a quarter miles on soft ground was too much of a test of stamina for Silver Buck to produce his very best form.
"[9] Silver Buck returned later in the month to win the Edward Hanmer Chase at Haydock Park for the third year in succession, on this occasion beating Sunset Cristo by a length and a half, with Night Nurse a long way back in third.
The 1981 King George VI Chase was lost to freezing weather, but Silver Buck had injured a hind foot shortly before and would not have been able to take his place anyway.
The injury had caused speculation that he might miss Cheltenham but he recuperated in time for him to reappear for a prep at Market Rasen in the first week in March, where he led all the way to successfully give weight away to inferior rivals.
With heavy ground prevailing again, Silver Buck started at 8/1 in the betting, with Night Nurse, Royal Bond, and Venture To Cognac being preferred in the market.
Raceform's John Sharratt reported, " ...Silver Buck disproved once and for all the supposition that he does not get the trip in testing ground.... the challenge of his stable companion was just the spur he needed to make him stretch out, and there is not the slightest doubt he won on merit."
Following victories at Wincanton and Stratford, Silver Buck won his fourth Edward Hanmer Chase at Haydock Park in November, beating future Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Burrough Hill Lad by two and a half lengths.
Dickinson ran five horses in the race and Silver Buck started the 5/1 third favourite behind Bregawn and the David Elsworth-trained Combs Ditch.
In a race famous for Dickinson training the first five home, Silver Buck could only finish a distant fourth behind Bregawn, Captain John, and Wayward Lad.
As he was remounting the abrasive sound of the waterproofs against the saddle spooked Silver Buck, who took off suddenly across the yard, colliding with a stable block wall.