Sam the man for Saphir

SAM TWISTON-DAVIES will ride Cheltenham Gold Cup fifth Saphir Du Rheu for boss Paul Nicholls in the Randox Health Grand National at Aintree a fortnight tomorrow.

Nicholls has set his stable jockey a poser with a five-strong hand — Foxhunter Chaser runner-up Wonderful Charm, 2016 Scottish Grand National hero Vicente, Just A Par and Le Mercurey are also set to line up — as he bids to win the jumps trainers’ title for the 11th time by capturing the £1million National.

But Twiston-davies yesterday plumped for the Andy Stewartowned 16-1 shot, a winner over Aintree’s regulation fences as a novice two years ago.

“He got into a lovely jumping rhythm in the Gold Cup and looks a well-handicapped horse,” Twiston-davies, whose father Nigel will saddle the well-fancied Blakion on April 8, said.

“He’s got form round the Grade 1 tracks and he jumped from fence to fence the day he won at Aintree.

“Vicente usually finds his form in the spring and we know he stays four miles from his Scottish National win, but it will be hard to get off Saphir Du Rheu.”