18th-Nov-2023

I am backing Buddy One here.  He is a remarkably tough horse, he goes into the race in good form, and we know that he goes well at Cheltenham.

Paul Gilligan’s horse put up a career-best performance in the Martin Pipe Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last March when he finished third behind Iroko.  Then he stepped forward from that next time to finish second to Fennor Cross in a high-class handicap hurdle at Aintree.

Fourth in the Galway Tribes Hurdle at the Galway Festival, and then third in a competitive handicap hurdle at the Listowel Festival, he finally got his head back in front at Galway last time, when he won another competitive handicap hurdle with plenty in hand, stepped up to two miles and six furlongs.

There is every chance that the step up to three miles today could bring about further improvement, and he should run a big race.  Placenet could be very good, but he is priced up as if he is.

BUDDY ONE WON (ADV 4/1, SP 9/4)