Bud-ding superstar shines in Becher
Hello Bud was a gallant winner for the father and son team of Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies in an eventful race for the totesport.com Becher Handicap Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree.
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: “What an excitement that was, I thought we were going have a one-two but Irish Raptor made that mistake at the second-last.
“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.
Owner Graham Wylie was delighted with Royal Rosa’s performance under Brian Hughes and trainer Howard Johnson’s assistant Ray Hawkey said: “That was a good run.
“I know Howard wants to run him in the Grand National but the problem is whether he will get in or not and if Denman runs there are going to be a lot of horses out of the handicap, including our horse.”
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 Fazakerley Hospital for further examination.
The Johnson team had gone one better earlier in the afternoon when Frankie Figg put up a fine display of jumping when making all under Hughes in the totepool Grand Sefton Handicap Chase.
This eight-year-old – who had failed to complete in his three previous outings over the National fences – really enjoyed himself and had more than enough in reserve to hold off Nikola and Private Be, who sadly collapsed and died after leaving the unsaddling enclosure.
Wylie said of the 10-1 winner: “I don’t know if he is a two-and-a-half-mile horse or if he will stay the National trip, we will have to see and I am sure Howard will find another race for him somewhere.”
Neill Mulholland has his horses in cracking form and he took his score for the season to 16 when Midnight Opera (12-1) gamely landed the toteplacepot Maiden Hurdle in the hands of conditional Mark Quinlan.
The trainer said: “His jumping has really come together now and he will improve for another summer behind him.”
Aidan Coleman was another to judge things to perfection from the front as top weight Quartz De Thaix completed a hat-trick in the Live Football Betting At totesport.com Handicap Hurdle.
There were several challengers two out but despite the steadier of 11st 12lb, the 14-1 chance would not be denied and stayed on well from the final flight to keep Son Of Flicka at bay by four and a half lengths.
Trainer Venetia Williams was not present, but Coleman said: “He did not like jumping fences last season, he frightened himself first time, so I don’t know what Venetia will do now.”
Cavers Glen (5-1) went to the front after four out in the toteswinger Flexi Betting Handicap Chase and stuck to his task in good style for in-form Dougie Costello to score by three and a half lengths from Fine Parchment.
Winning trainer Alistair Whillans said: “We fancied him. He is a good jumper and you need a good jumper in races around here.”
Donald McCain kept himself in his father Ginger’s good books when sending out Eighteen Carat to win the toteexacta Flexi Betting Novices’ Handicap Hurdle in the latter’s colours under Jason Maguire.
The concluding bumper went the way of Charlie Egerton’s Monnow Made (9-2) ridden by Jimmy McCarthy and looks the type to go on to better things.
