‘Horses for courses’ – Gilligan hoping Buddy can make his mark at the Festival
Athenry-based trainer ‘can’t wait’ for Stayers’ Hurdle date, with his son in the saddle.
Paul Gilligan would not swap Buddy One for any other runner in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle field as his course winner prepares to take his shot at Cheltenham Festival glory. The Irish raider finished third behind Iroko in the Martin Pipe last year before again hitting the crossbar at Aintree a month later. The seven-year-old continued to perform well over the subsequent months and returned to the Cotswolds in November where a competitive handicap victory signalled a move into deeper waters in search of bigger honours.✅ Buddy One delivers the goods for Jack & Paul Gilligan to record a smooth success in this GBP 30,000 prize at @CheltenhamRaces @paddypower pic.twitter.com/7pjWnGFLlP
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 18, 2023
Although faltering in his two starts to date in Grade One company, Gilligan believes Buddy One’s form at Prestbury Park makes him a player in the feature of Thursday’s Festival action and is relishing the chance to lock horns with some of the best in the staying hurdling division. “It’s coming thick and fast and he’s in great shape. He’s been working really well lately and we’re looking forward to seeing him run,” said Gilligan. “He did a great piece of work on Tuesday and I couldn’t be happier with him. “He’s run twice around Cheltenham and won once and finished third in a race he could have won. It’s horses for courses as they say and he seems to like Cheltenham.
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