SAM IS THE MAN
NINE months after quitting his job as first jockey to Paul Nicholls, Sam Twiston-Davies is hoping to give his old boss a 10th victory in Kempton’s 32Red King George VI Chase on Boxing Day when he partners Politologue.
Harry Cobden took over the number one role at the Nicholls yard and partnered Politologue to victory in last season’s Tingle Creek Chase, but it was TwistonDavies who was on the grey’s back when he won at Ascot last month. But Nicholls insists it has been amicably decided.
“It’s about keeping harmony in the camp,” he said. “And it does not make a massive amount of a difference.
“Harry’s very happy riding Clan Des Obeaux, I said to him after he rode him at Haydock, you’re going to have a difficult decision to make and he said no I’m not.
“Clan has got the form in the book. That was a strong race (Betfair Chase) when he was fourth to Bristol De Mai. He knows Sam’s ridden Politologue before and is happy with it.”
The betting market suggests Twiston-Davies has the best chance of capturing Kempton’s Boxing Day cracker. Politologue is 8-1 with Clan
Des Obeaux 25-1. Nicholls might be short of the flagbearers like Kauto Star – winner of the King George on five occasions – but he believes Politologue has what is required.
“He’s not unlike Kauto as they both won the Tingle Creek Chase. He’s a similar type of horse funnily enough.
“As for Clan Des Obeaux, he’s not unlike Silviniaco Conti (won the race twice).”
Twiston-Davies will have a fight on hands with his father, Nigel, running Bristol De Mai.
Twiston-Davies said: “The slightly worrying thing about Kempton is that there’s been three meetings this season and two fallers, which suggests the fences don’t take a lot of jumping!”
The Nicky Henderson-trained Might Bite, winner of last year’s King George and the 7-2 favourite to repeat that feat, was found out by the stiff fences at Haydock when he was last of five runners.
Henderson believes he lost his confidence on that occasion but is now back to his best. The champion trainer has left Altior, winner of Saturday’s Tingle Creek Chase, in the race but admits it is unlikely that he will run. However, Henderson is toying with the idea of targeting the race next year for the gelding who is unbeaten over jumps.