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Connections of Longford are bullish about the bargain buy’s prospects at Ashburton on Friday.

The four-year-old has prospered since moving south and he will be chasing the third win of his preparation in the Matt Smith Construction Rating 75 1600m.

“To me he should be winning, the only concern I have is that it’s his seventh run this campaign but he’s working well and the track will be to his liking,” co-trainer Richard Didham said.

Longford won once from 12 starts from the Cambridge stable of Stephen Marsh before his move to Riccarton.

“We paid $1800 for him off Gavelhouse and he’s now won and placed on a Premier day so we’re more than pleased with him,” Didham said.

“We picked up a steal and syndicated him and we think he’ll keep going on with it.”

Longford finished fourth at Riccarton at his latest appearance and Didham said the return to a mile would be more to the Cecconi gelding’s liking.

“We made a bit of a blue dropping him back to 1400m and they went slowly and when they took off he got left a bit flat-footed.

“He’s done well since and we’re really happy with him.”

A course and distance winner at Ashburton in March, Longford subsequently won at Riccarton and then finished third behind Euphoria and the stakes winner Residential.