Buddy One © Photo Healy Racing
Paul Gilligan is readying Buddy One for a crack at the Stayers' Hurdle after his charge proved his mettle over a similar trip at Cheltenham in November.
The son of Sans Frontieres took the honours by a length in the Paddy Power Games Handicap Hurdle over an extended two miles seven furlongs and another trip to Prestbury Park looms.
The seven-year-old gelding was last seen being pulled up in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas with a sore back being diagnosed.
The trainer told Racing TV: "He is in great shape. I had him at Navan after racing on Sunday for a piece of work and he got a lovely breeze around there.
"The plan is to go for the Stayers' Hurdle with him.
"He has been doing well - he came out of his last run at Leopardstown with a very sore back. I had his back treated and he is actually just getting it treated again.
"He is in good shape and it is grand to have these type of horses.
"For the smaller years, tipping away with low-grade stuff, and then you come on with a couple of these, it is what you are all doing it for.
"We won the Albert Bartlett a good few years ago (with Berties Dream in 2010) and we had a winner at the November meeting there (Buddy One). That's next to the festival itself."
In addition to his Cheltenham success, Buddy One has also been victorious over flights in Galway and Fairyhouse.
On his sole other visit to Cheltenham, he finished third in the Martin Pipe at last year's festival.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
