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NIGEL TWISTON-DAVIES could not hide his delight when he teamed up with his son Sam to land a double at Cheltenham yesterday.
Sam quit his job as number one rider for Paul Nicholls in May after a four-year association with the trainer to ride as a freelance, although the pair have not severed their ties.
“It’s so lovely having Sam back – poor Mr Nicholls,” said Twiston Davies. “He never does anything wrong, does he?”
Nicholls and Sam join forces at Kempton on Boxing Day when Politologue runs in the King George.
Al Dancer set the ball rolling for the Twiston-Davies pair when taking the Catesby Handicap Hurdle.
With imminent retirement looming for The New One, his trainer clearly has a worthy replacement for championship honours in Al Dancer.
Improving
Always travelling effortlessly in the hands of Sam Twiston-Davies, the grey took off when given his head after the jumping the last hurdle and nothing could give chase as he came home by 11 lengths from Not That Fuisse.
“He was a nice horse in bumpers last season and is clearly improving,” said the winning trainer.
“I hope the handicapper does not take today’s win too literally as we would like to run him in the Betfair Hurdle in February.”
Al Dancer is 14-1 with Ladbrokes to give Twiston-Davies a third success in the Newbury handicap, which he won with Splash Of Ginge (2014) and Ballyandy (2017).
The New One, seeking an unprecedented fourth victory in today’s Unibet International Hurdle at Cheltenham, is expected to be retired if he fails to recapture his form.
Twiston-Davies added: “We can go back to novice hurdles with Al Dancer after running in handicaps.
“We will obviously be looking at one of the Grade One events at the Festival for him.”
Twiston-Davies is thinking about the Grand National for Cogry after he fought like a hungry lion protecting its prey when taking the CF Roberts Handicap Chase.
Making the running, Cogry was briefly headed by Singlefarmpayment in the shadow of the winning post, but when asked for a final effort he gave his all to snatch victory by a head.
“He is a genuine little horse that runs his heart out every time,” said the winning trainer. “That’s his third win round here so he can’t be too bad.
“Maybe he could have an entry in the Grand National or something like that, as he stays and jumps beautifully.
“Failing that he could go back to the Scottish National (second behind Vicente in 2017).
“I think better ground helps him. There is the Classic Chase at Warwick and that could be for him next.”