North West Masters

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Hello Bud Warms Up for Another National Attempt
22/11/10

1 Hello Bud 15/2F
2 Royal Rosa 14/1
3 One Cool Cookie 25/1
4 Ballyvesey 25/1
17 ran Distances: 1¼l, 10l, 6l
TIME 7m 5.40s (slow by 29.40s)

Hello Bud again showed his liking for Aintree, in a gallant performance for the father and son team of Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies, winning an eventful totesport.com Becher Handicap Chase at Aintree.

Hello Bud
© racing-images.co.uk

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 BetVictor 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 before holding the strong challenge of Royal Rosa by a length and a quarter, with One Cool Cookie 10 lengths further away in third.

Twiston-Davies senior said: "The horse is 12, nearly 13, and the boy is 18 just. It was absolutely superb. What an excitement that was. I thought we were going to 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) is another possibility."

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.

Paddy Mangan took a heavy fall from Whatuthink at the first fence and the son of Grand National-winning trainer Jimmy Mangan was taken to the local Fazakerley Hospital for further examination. He was reported to have suffered only soft tissue injuries to his face.

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	Hello Bud N A Twiston-Davies	S Twiston-Davies 10st 8lbs	15 - 2 Winner
2	Royal Rosa J Howard Johnson	B Hughes 10st 0lbs	14 - 1 1 1/4 length
3	One Cool Cookie C F Swan	A P Heskin 11st 2lbs	25 - 1 10 lengths
4	Ballyvesey P Bowen	T Scudamore 10st 0lbs	25 - 1 6 lengths
5	Notre Pere J T R Dreaper	A E Lynch 11st 12lbs	8 - 1 8 lengths
6	Irish Raptor N A Twiston-Davies	P J Brennan 10st 3lbs	11 - 1 3 1/4 lengths
7	Au Courant Mrs S Leech	R P McLernon 10st 0lbs	100 - 1 11 lengths
Fell	Gullible Gordon P F Nicholls	Mr R Mahon 11st 3lbs	12 - 1
Fell	Maljimar Nick Williams	D Jacob 11st 3lbs	8 - 1
Fell	Whatuthink O McKiernan	P F Mangan 11st 3lbs	12 - 1
UnseatedRider	Meanus Dandy P F Nicholls	Ian Popham 10st 13lbs	8 - 1
Fell	Merigo A Parker	T J Murphy 10st 12lbs	8 - 1
UnseatedRider	I'moncloudnine N P Mulholland	D C Costello 10st 8lbs	17 - 2
Fell	Newman Des Plages M Todhunter	J Reveley 10st 0lbs	16 - 1
UnseatedRider	Midnight Gold P Bowen	A Coleman 10st 0lbs	33 - 1
Fell	Minster Shadow C Grant	C I Gillies 10st 0lbs	25 - 1
Fell	Pak Jack R T Phillips	L Treadwell 10st 0lbs	33 - 1