NAP of the Day: Novice chaser to pick up where he left off

If Wednesday's card at Kelso goes ahead - a 7.30am inspection has been called due to potential overnight snow and frost - I've got high hopes for this lightly-raced novice chaser who's taken to continue progressing up the handicap ranks.

Clearly, plenty has always been thought of Young Buster. He fetched £60,000 in March last year after a short spell with Shark Hanlon, and just over four months later made his debut for Fergal O'Brien in a warm Class 3 maiden hurdle at Aintree.

He was a little disappointing there and as a result was kept off the track for 133 days, during which he had wind surgery. That seemed to work as intended, as he then easily broke his duck at Ffos Las back in March.

Underwhelming in a Ayr handicap hurdle off a mark of just 113 next time out, connections then decided to send him chasing. That looked more his game.

The seven-year-old son of Yeats beat Quid Pro Quo, rated 121 and in good form at the time, cosily enough with his other two rivals over 18L behind. That's a strong piece of form in the context of this race and a five-pound rise in the handicap looks manageable.

A chance is taken on fitness, but given how he performed after a long lay-off and wind surgery I'm optimistic - while conditions are no bother and I've no concerns about the 2m7½f trip either.

Of his four rivals for this 0-120 handicap chase, it's the similarly-named Busty Boy who rates the main danger. He won over course and distance exactly 32 days ago and is race fit, but it was a dire contest he won and this represents a fair step up off a five-pound higher mark.

I'll be surprised if the winner isn't one of the aforementioned two. Let's hope it's a case of 'bust' for Daragh Bourke's six-year-old and 'boom' for the selection.