Nigel’s Dreamer pips his trainer pal at the post »

AS close finishes go, the battle between Cogry and Relentless Dreamer would be up there with some of the best in the Cheltenham archives.

After three miles and a furlong, in a race run at a hectic gallop, there was little between the two staying chasers as they toughed it out up the hill.

But it’s perhaps a race Nigel Twiston-davies won’t want to watch on repeat, as it’s the second time he has been pipped to the post by one of his owners.

Nigel Morris, who switched Natter Jack Croak and Bigbadjohn to the Naunton yard in January 2018, has a share in Joe Farrell, the nose victor over the Gloucestershire-trained Ballyoptic in the 2018 Scottish National.

That was the last time many of the leading staying chasers slugged it out but Sam Twiston-davies hadn’t forgotten considering his act of sportsmanship coming into the winners’ enclosure.

Morris said it wasn’t ideal to beat one of his other yards, but that he was thrilled for trainer Rebecca Curtis, whose resurgence has been welcomed by National Hunt fans.

“We always say we are the two Nigels,” said Morris, referring to his partnership with Twiston-davies.

“He is a leading trainer who I have always followed and I switched two of my horses to him from Rebecca’s earlier this year for a change of scenery.

“Rebecca is excellent. I think she’ll have a really good season.

“We all said this horse (Relentless Dreamer) could have a big day. It’s tremendously exciting to do it here.

“He could be a National horse the way he travelled. He’s a fantastic jumper and has always been a bit underrated.

“The first time he ran he stumbled and fell in a bumper. Richard Johnson was riding and I thought we had lost the horse.

“But nowadays he’s as game and consistent as they come.”

Cogry was a clearcut of this Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap Steeplechase a year ago, but his 2lb higher mark could have been the difference between winning and losing.

The neck defeat was especially frustrating for Sam Twiston-davies, who has gone more than a year without a Cheltenham winner.