Hello Bud Aims For Aintree

Hello Bud could bid to follow up his last year’s gutsy success in the Betfred Becher Chase at Aintree on Saturday, 3rd December 2011, after he was among 26 declared for 3m2f contest on Monday.

Despite being the ripe old age of 13, the ever popular saw off Royal Rosa to score by a length and a quarter under Sam Twiston-Davies for his father Nigel twelve months ago and has incredibly short odds for the upcoming race.

Twiston-Davies jnr, writing in his exclusive column in Monday’s Racing Post, said: “I can’t wait for the weekend when the legend Hello Bud runs in the Becher Chase. He’s in cracking form – the bugger ran away with me the other morning – and I think he can run a massive race.”

His competition comes in the form of the Dessie Hughes trained Rare Bob and the Willie Mullins trained Uncle Junior, who won at Cheltenham last time out.

Always Waining landed his second successive John Smith’s Topham Chase in April and he holds entries in the Becher Chase, for which he is 12-1 with Betfred, as well as the Betfred Grand Sefton Chase over 2m5f.

Favourite for the 2011 Becher Chase is the Irish Master Overseer (6/111/2-1), trained by David Pipe, who should go off at about 9/1. He’s followed in the markets by 6 year old Another Palm who hails from Noel Meade’s stables. Hello Bud may have his work cut out for him!