BOB BUCKLER RACING: All fit and raring to go

However next week sees jump racing’s Cheltenham Festival, the equivalent of football’s World Cup, and the stables three horses entered for the four day extravaganza are in fine form running up to their big day.

The first day Tuesday sees last Year’s Irish Grand National Winner Niche Market have his final run before  the Aintree Grand National when he runs in the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase over three miles.

The nine-year-old jumped to the front of the betting for the National after he just failed to hold off current favourite Tricky Trickster over the same distance at Newbury in the Aon Chase recently. Ridden by Harry Skelton he will be looking for good to soft ground.

Also on Tuesday’s card is Double Dizzy who is entered for the Glenfarcas Handicap Chase over 3 miles 7 furlomgs for which he is currently quoted at odds of 20/1.

“Digger” as he is affectionately known around the yard, ran a good race last time out at Kempton last month finishing 2½ lengths second to Nicky Henderson’s useful Duc De Regniere.

Thursday sees The Sawyer attempt to maintain his recent good form when he goes for the Byrne Group Plate. Following successes at Ascot and Cheltenham in January, he returned to Ascot last month and ran what Buckler described as his best run ever, in the Betfair Ascot Chase to finish a brilliant third behind Monet’s Garden and Alberta’s Run.

Again he will be ridden by the stables up and coming conditional jockey Nathan Sweeney.

One horse not running is Ballyeagan who failed dismally in his pre-race at Newbury last Friday. The newly acquired five-year-old having won a couple of point-to-points in Ireland trailed home last in his first race under Buckler.

“He ran very green, and was very disappointing. I have noticed this with some of the Irish horses who fail to impress initially when the come to the UK. It was a gamble to hopefully race him at Cheltenham which backfired I’m afraid.”

Mizzurka is entered for Cheltenham but this is only a fall back should racing at Sandown on Saturday be abandoned because of the weather or the ground is to bad.

Having won the qualifying race at Taunton the six-year-old mare is due to run in the Dbs/ebf Mares' Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race Final for which Henderson’s Lifestyle seems the biggest danger.

Local trainer Charlie Fox will be hoping to go one better this year in the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase.

The Askerwell trained nine-year-old Turthen finished second to Cappa Bleuin last year’s race and is currently rated a 12/1chance for next Friday’s race.

Buckler’s neighbour Richard Barber at Seavington also has two horses entered for the Foxhunter.  The 11-year-old Le Duc is rated at 14/1, whilst Barber appears to have a much better chance with Trust Fund.

He has won five of his last six races and is currently rated third favourite at odds of 13/2.

PICTURE: (From left) The Sawyer with Nikki Malcolm, Bob Buckler, Gary Old with Niche Markey, Nathan Sweeney and Adele Follett with Double Dizzy

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