Buddy is Reel Star of future

Aug 30 2008 by Doug Moscrop, The Journal

YOU don’t get a lot for your money these days, so the £6,000 that one of George Moore’s owners paid for Reel Buddy Star after his two-year-old debut at Newcastle last August couldn’t have done much harm to his bank balance.

Racing on the opposite side to the winner, the youngster finished a well-beaten second, but he had shaped with a degree of promise, enough to convince John Armstrong to put in a claim which proved successful.

And Armstrong had an immediate return for his investment when Reel Buddy Star went back to the Tyneside track 40 days later and landed a maiden auction before chasing home the all-the-way winner Cross Fell who had the advantage of a better draw in a Catterick nursery.

While no further success has come the gelding’s way in five attempts this season, he has been performing with some consistency. He has only once failed to make the frame, yet his rating is only a pound higher than his first venture in handicap company on his third start last year.

Two outings ago, he failed by a neck to cope with the favourite Rainbow Mirage at Nottingham and, more recently, stuck on well to finish a close third to Mangham at Haydock. That was a slightly higher grade than the Coverdale Handicap he contests at Ripon today although it will be no easy task against an abundance of previous winners.

Viscountess failed to maintain her gallop at Goodwood a week ago, but sticking to the inside rail may not have been the best place to be on that occasion and it will be no surprise to see her bounce back and provide most opposition to Reel Buddy Star.

Feisty Royale, a stable-mate of Viscountess, is on a fair mark at present and can build on some better efforts of late by landing the Wensleydale Handicap. On a recent visit to the West Yorkshire track she had the misfortune to come up against the improving La Sarrazine and was put firmly in her place.

I doubt if she will have to contend with such a progressive performer this time and her front-running style should see her home ahead of her field.

With the ground drying out, high numbers may not enjoy the same advantage on the sprint course at Ripon as they do on an easy surface and, bearing that in mind, Total Impact can take either route from his middle stall.

He has been in good form since returning to the turf this year and justified market support in a big-field handicap at Goodwood last time. The extra furlong here will suit and he can defy a 4lb higher mark on his way to a tilt at the Portland Handicap at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting. Vanderlin reserves some of his best form for Chester and, despite his advancing years, he is weighted to repeat last year’s victory in the corbettpoker.com Handicap. He is 6lb lower this time and has a single-figure draw which is usually of great benefit.

Topflightcoolracer made the most of a plum draw at the Roodee last season and finds herself in the same stall for the corbettcasino.com Handicap. She is also back on a mark only a pound higher.