QUANTOCK-based trainer Bob Buckler is gearing up for the new National Hunt campaign hoping to build on the success he enjoyed last season, writes Richard Walsh.

Buckler won over £117,000 in prizemoney last time out - his best since relocating to his present yard, near Merridge.

Buckler’s most successful horse last time round was Regal Flow, who won three races, the pick of which Midland Grand National over four miles two furlongs at Uttoxeter, and was placed three times.

“It was a super season all round for me. The younger horses lived up to their potential, and the older horses on the yard all did their jobs.

“Regal Flow was the star and looking forward he may well be targeted at the 2019 Grand National which is going to take a lot of sorting out. He is a bold horse and I don’t think that he would have any problems at all, but there are also a lot of other valuable races that he could go into.”

Another of Buckler’s winners was Unwin VC.

“I would like to give him another bumper, possibly at Cheltenham in November, before he goes hurdling and then eventually chasing and hope he continues to develop in the way that he has so far.”

This season Buckler will have 12 horses on the yard, including Gibb Hill, another horse bought to become a chaser, Italian River, a six-year-old gelding who has had two bumper runs last season as well as Knight of the Realm, a nine-year-old gelding who won a chase at the end of the 2017 season at Fontwell.

All Kings, another horse who was placed four times last season, is also still with the yard. He said: “We are hoping to build on last year and hopefully get him to win a race this season.”

Hoo Bally Diva, who has won her last two races, is back in action and will be one of the first out this season.

“This is always an exciting time when every horse on the yard is potentially a winner so I can’t wait to get our first horses running.”