Gallant Bud shines in Becher
The 15-2 favourite made the bulk of the running in the hands of his 18-year-old rider, who was successful last weekend in the Paddy Power Gold Cup on his father’s Little Josh.
He was headed briefly by Ballyvesey three out but that one could not keep up the gallop and Hello Bud went on again. The race was far from over though, as Brian Hughes brought Royal Rosa with what looked a perfectly-timed run.
Hello Bud found more on the long run to the line and won by a length and a quarter from Royal Rosa with One Cool Cookie 10 lengths away third and Ballyvesey fourth.
Paddy Power and William Hill gave Hello Bud a 33-1 quote for the Grand National back over the big fences in April while Coral go 25-1 from 50s.
Twiston-Davies senior said: “Hello Bud is made for these fences and we will definitely come back and have another try at the National in the spring. Our worry was that he wouldn’t get in, but he will now. He prefers good ground and although we have put him in the Welsh National, unless we get an Indian winter the ground is unlikely to be right for him there.
“But the race at Warwick (Tote Classic) in January is another possibility for him.”
The jockey said: “He jumped from fence to fence and travelled like a superstar. When Ballyvesey passed me I just tried to save a little bit turning for home and save the stick for as long as possible.”
However, Twiston-Davies was suspended for five days (December 5-9 inclusive) for using his whip with excessive frequency and in the wrong place.
The win initiated a famous double for owner Seamus Murphy, who a few hours later saw his colours carried to success in the Troytown Chase at Navan by Jack The Bus.
Patrick Mangan – son of Grand National-winning trainer Jimmy Mangan – took a very heavy fall from Whatuthink at the first fence, but fortunately he was reported to have suffered only soft tissue injuries to his face.
He was taken to the local hospital for further examination.
* Tony McCoy gave up his planned ride at Towcester yesterday after hurting his shin in the third of three falls on Saturday at Ascot but will return to action today.
