Pipe expecting big hat-trick Pertemps effort from Buena Vista
Published:Buena Vista has shown little in the past 12 months to suggest that he is capable of a third successive victory in the Pertemps Final, but trainer David Pipe believes he could offer some each-way value at 10/1 in the Cheltenham odds.
In his last 33 races since January 2007, Buena Vista has registered just two victories, but both of these have arrived in the Pertemps at the Cheltenham Festival.
Therefore, punters should not be put off the horse rediscovering his best form again after a below-par season where he has finished no better than fifth.
Pipe believes the horse showed some of his old spark in his latest start at Kempton and despite trailing home in ninth spot, this will set him up for Cheltenham.
Looking at the weights allocated for the Pertemps, Buena Vista certainly looks to stand a realistic chance of completing a hat-trick of victories.
He will run off a mark off 140 this year compared to 138 last March and has been allocated just 6lb more by the handicapper.
However, most of this additional weight will be negated by Pipe’s desire to put a 10lb claimer on board, with Conor O’Farrell taking just 5lb off the horse’s back 12 months ago.
The biggest threat to Buena Vista is likely to come from stablemate Our Father, assuming Pipe picks the Pertemps over the Coral Cup for the horse.
Our Father is set to run off 11st3lb in both races and given the way he won at Ascot in December, the 3m of the Pertemps is likely to suit more than the slightly lesser distance of the Coral Cup.
At present Our Father is just the favourite to win the Pertemps Final at 5/1, with Sivola De Sivola available at 6/1.
