Broadway Boy could sidestep the Welsh Grand National in favour of a tilt at the Cotswold Chase after filling the runner-up spot in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.
The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained six-year-old was sent off clear favourite for the prestigious handicap after finishing third on his seasonal reappearance at Cheltenham in October and was given a positive ride from the front by the trainer’s son, Sam.
A mistake four fences from the finish proved significant and he ultimately had to make do with the silver medal behind Paul Nicholls’ Kandoo Kid, but the team were proud of his performance nonetheless.
“He ran a great race. It’s horrible to say you come away from a Coral Gold Cup being disappointed with finishing second, but I just felt if we’d jumped four out, we might have won – and if we’d had softer ground, we might have won,” said Willy Twiston-Davies, assistant to his father.
A gutsy performance from Harry Cobden & Kandoo Kid!
Broadway Boy is a 10-1 joint-favourite with the sponsors for the Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow on December 27, but Twiston-Davies is also considering a return to Cheltenham a month later, a track where the gelding has already won on three occasions.
He added: “He’s obviously entered in the Welsh National, I think he’s one of the favourites for that, but that might come too soon for him and we’re probably more looking at the Cotswold Chase in January.
“He loves Cheltenham, hopefully it’ll be softer ground by then and over the years the Cotswold Chase has been a winnable race.
“It’s not usually quite up to Gold Cup standard, so we could go there and work our way back from the Grand National after that.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/278349462-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-12-02 16:05:362024-12-02 16:05:36Broadway Boy camp may just favour waiting for Cotswold bid
Supreme Gift booked his place for a potential tilt at the Pertemps Network Final when coming out on top in a qualifier at Market Rasen.
The Henry Daly-trained seven-year-old was seventh on his seasonal debut when last seen at Cheltenham and was ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies as a 3-1 shot for his trip to Lincolnshire.
Harbour Lake, the 2-1 favourite, looked the main threat and did take the lead over the final flight, but Supreme Gift was tough and put his head down to battle his way back and prevail by half a length, securing his spot at Cheltenham in March in the process.
“I suppose he hit the front a bit too soon and then came back again, but I think we’ll aim him at the final,” said Daly.
“It would be the obvious thing to do, he’ll go up a couple of pounds so he’ll probably get in anyhow.
🏇 Supreme Gift denies Harbour Lake to land the spoils in a thrilling conclusion to the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle for Sam Twiston-Davies and Henry Daly 👏@hdalyracing | @PertempsJobspic.twitter.com/tEd8nPf9pd
“It’s a win and you’re in so it’s probably going to be the natural long-term aim for him now.”
Fergal O’Brien’s Tripoli Flyer made light work of his second hurdles start when taking the Pertemps Network “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle under Jonathan Burke.
The five-year-old has some good bumper form, finishing second to stablemate and subsequent hurdles winner Horaces Pearl in a Grade Two event at Aintree at the end of last term.
His debut over obstacles was a runner-up finish to David Pipe’s useful-looking Jurancon and there looked little to oppose him on his second attempt and he started the 1-14 favourite.
Those cramped odds proved correct and he was totally unchallenged in securing a 29-length victory.
“I’m very pleased with him there, I’m glad he did that and Johnny got him in front early enough and tried to teach him a little bit,” said O’Brien.
“He was a very short-priced favourite, but he’s won like a short-priced favourite so we were obviously delighted with that.
“We were disappointed not to win the first day, but Johnny said he’s come on leaps and bounds since then, sometimes it’s not all about winning the first time and he’s never run in a point to point so he’s learning on the job.”
The Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle went the way of Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Chief Sunday, who struck on his handicap debut at 5-1 under the trainer’s son, Sam.
In a field of three the gelding was a comfortable two-length victor over even-money favourite Brave Jen.
Jim and Suzi Best’s Camino Rocio secured the hat-trick when taking the Pertemps Network Novices’ Handicap Chase under Sean Bowen.
Camino Rocio lands the hat-trick after winning the Pertemps Network Novices' Handicap Chase in confident style for Sean Bowen & Jim & Suzi Best@PertempsJobspic.twitter.com/kfMB9b71qA
The six-year-old joined the stable this season and has not looked back, winning on his yard debut at Wincanton in October and then again at Huntingdon earlier this month.
He was the 7-4 favourite to land a three-time and duly did so, settling into a lovely rhythm and jumping fluently to score by 12 lengths.
“I was over the moon with that, we were a little bit worried about whether he’d handle the softer going but he seemed to handle it well,” said Jim Best.
“He probably got in a better rhythm than last time, it’s a great start for us, three on the trot and you never know, there might be one more in him.
“We’ll see what comes up, but he seems to be really enjoying his work and enjoying racing.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/b31fa266-2d35-4b00-97ec-a59f6aa1456f.jpg7681536Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-11-27 14:57:072024-11-27 14:57:07Supreme Gift secures Pertemps place with Market Rasen victory
Potters Charm could try to back up the huge impression he has made already this season in the Coral Challow Hurdle at Newbury on December 28.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ five-year-old already has three wins under his belt, the most recent of which in Grade Two company at Cheltenham marked him out as one of the best prospects seen to date this season in Britain.
In beating Dan Skelton’s odds-on favourite Valgrand by 11 lengths he was promoted towards the head of the betting for the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle back at Cheltenham in March.
Sam Twiston-Davies celebrates victory aboard Potters Charm (Nigel French/PA)
“Everything is very good with him, he’s just cantering away. There’s nothing really set in stone yet, but we’ll probably go to the Challow,” said assistant trainer Willy Twiston-Davies.
“At the minute he’s just having a bit of a quiet time after those three relatively quick runs, two of them at Cheltenham.
“There’s no real rush with him now, but it’s just nice watching the form of his races stacking up brilliantly.
“From the first Cheltenham race he won the second (Minello Sixo) won in Ireland and the third (First Confession) won a novice hurdle at Ascot, so that looks particularly strong form.
“I’m convinced he’ll be better still on softer ground. He won his bumper very impressively on heavy at Ffos Las and I think he’s been winning in spite of the ground so far, we’ve always felt with cut in the ground he’ll be seen to better effect again.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/278214355-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-11-27 12:37:582024-11-27 12:37:58Challow a probable target for Potters Charm
Beauport will be aimed at the Randox Grand National following his 31-length stroll to victory in the Berkshire National at Ascot on Saturday.
Given his owners Bryan and Philippa Burrough have tasted Aintree glory before back in 1983 with the Jenny Pitman-trained Corbiere, heading back with a live chance in April was always on the cards.
He claimed the Midlands National in March off a mark of 140, won on Saturday off 144 and has been hiked another 12lb by the handicapper this week.
Beauport is trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies and his son and assistant Willy feels it is all coming together now for the eight-year-old.
“I think Aintree has to be the target now, his owner Bryan has won the race before and he’ll be very keen to have another go,” he said.
Beauport and Toby McCain-Mitchell came home in splendid isolation at Ascot (Steven Paston/PA)
“I’m not sure what we’ll do in the interim, maybe give him a couple of runs over hurdles until the weights come out.
“I thought he was seriously impressive, it’s the best he’s jumped and it was back to the sort of form which saw him win the Colin Parker a couple of years ago. He showed the horse he can be.
“He’s just had a few niggles along the way and the odd confidence issue, but obviously when he won the Midlands National at Uttoxeter, he was very good and then nothing went right for him in the Scottish National – that was much more like it on Saturday and what we expect most of the time.
“He’s obviously a very talented horse and he’s going the right way.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/275633291-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-11-26 12:07:172024-11-26 12:07:17Beauport connections dreaming of Grand National glory
Confidence is high that Broadway Boy fits the profile to make his presence felt in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury later this month.
Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, the six-year-old announced himself as one of Britain’s leading staying novice chasers last term with some dazzling performances at Cheltenham before the turn of the year.
However, he was never quite the same as the season moved into 2024, with a below-par display in the Hampton Novices’ Chase at Warwick put down to stomach ulcers, while he also missed the Cheltenham Festival following an unsatisfactory scope during the week of the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.
Broadway Boy has excelled at Cheltenham (David Davies for the Jockey Club/PA)
He was well held when making a final novice start at Aintree later in the spring, but showed more of his old zest when returning to his beloved Prestbury Park last month, finishing third in a competitive contest behind possible Newbury rival, Henry de Bromhead’s Senior Chief.
The Broadway Boy team are hopeful that outing has helped blow away the cobwebs and having begun to turn the screw at home, are anticipating he has all the attributes to thrive in Berkshire on November 30 in a race for which he is 10-1 with sponsors Coral.
“He did his first proper big piece of work back since Cheltenham on Tuesday and it went really well,” said assistant trainer Willy Twiston-Davies.
“He looks to be on a nice racing weight and hopefully everything will be in his favour to ensure a big run at Newbury.
“We’re all over them (the issues from earlier in the year) now and I don’t know what happened at Warwick, we should probably have drawn stumps after that. We persisted which was probably a bit silly but he’s A1 now and we will just target our races accordingly.
“Second-season novices have a good record in the Coral Gold Cup and we’re looking forward to running.”
Run at Wetherby racecourse the Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase is a Grade 2 contest run over 3m1f. With 18 fences to be jumped this gives National Hunt fans an early season chance to see some of the top chasers back on the track, and can often provide a good guide to the main jumps festivals later in the season.
We take a look back at recent winners and gives you all the stats that matter ahead of the Charlie Hall Chase race - did you know that 14 of the last 22 winners were aged 8 or older, while it's a race the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard have a great record in - winning it six times, including in two of the last 7 seasons.
20/22 – Rated 151 or higher
19/22 – Returned 7/1 or shorter in the betting
17/22 – Were having their first run of the season
16/22 – Had won over at least 3m over fences before
14/22 – Aged 8 or older
14/22 – Had won at least 4 times over fences before
12/22 – Aged 8 or 9 years-old
12/22 – Ran at Ayr (3), Aintree (7) or Cheltenham (2) last time out
11/22 – Placed favourites
9/22 - Finished 1st or 2nd last time out
8/22 – Had run at Wetherby before (4 won)
4/22 – Winning favourites
4/22 – Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies (6 wins in total)
3/22 - Trained by Paul Nicholls (5 wins in total)
2/22 – Ridden by Harry Cobden (2 of last 4)
2/22 – Ridden by Daryl Jacob
2/22 – Trained by Evan Williams
Nigel Twiston-Davies has won the race in 1992, 1994, 2005, 2007, 2017 and 2019
The average winning SP in the last 22 runnings is 13/2
The last winner aged 10+ was in 2004 (18 runs ago)
================================================
TRAINERS-QUOTES.COM
GET THE BEST DAILY TRAINER INFO FROM 13 TOP STABLES - Sent direct to your in-box!
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/cyrname_CharlieHall.jpg318830Andy Newtonhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngAndy Newton2024-11-02 02:19:202024-11-02 08:20:262024 Charlie Hall Chase Trends
Toby McCain-Mitchell could not hide his delight after booting home The Newest One to secure his first winner at Cheltenham on Friday.
Based with trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, the 5lb claimer is a grandson of the late, great Ginger McCain, trainer of the three-time Grand National hero Red Rum.
McCain-Mitchell has enjoyed half a dozen previous winners from just under 50 rides in the past five seasons, but his latest triumph in the Glenfarclas Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase was comfortably his most notable to date.
“It’s unbelievable. I was walking back up the chute and Jack Andrews said ‘Toby is that your first winner (at Cheltenham)?’ and I said it was, he said ‘slow down and take it all in’ and he was right – it’s magic,” said the rider after his 10-1 success.
“I didn’t want to get going on him too soon, but I thought if I turned in with my head in front he’d take a bit of passing and he toughed it out really well.
“It’s a bit surreal. The atmosphere here, the history, years of trying to get out of geography at school to go and watch the Supreme (Novices’ Hurdle)! To ride a winner here, it takes a bit of beating.”
Twiston-Davies – a Grand National-winning trainer in his own right – was full of praise for the amateur jockey, while The Newest One could now be readied for an appearance over the Grand National fences at Aintree.
Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies at Cheltenham (David Davies/PA)
“Toby is a very good rider. He asked to come to us and we’ve loved every minute of it,” said the Naunton-based handler.
“He’s Ginger’s grandson and was perfect the whole way round, wasn’t he? I don’t want to tell everyone that as I don’t want anyone else nicking him!
“He (The Newest One) seems to be getting better as he gets older. I really was hopeful today and we’d planned this from a long way out.
“He could come back here, or there is talk about looking at the Becher Chase.”
Twiston-Davies went on to complete a double in the following Alastair Down Press Room Novices’ Hurdle, with Potters Charm (6-5 favourite) stretching his unbeaten record under rules to three in the hands of the trainer’s son, Sam.
Willy Twiston-Davies, assistant to his father, said: “I said to the owners if it was soft ground he would definitely win because he’s a very good horse on soft ground. The good ground was a bit of a worry, but we know from what he does at home the talent is there and I think he won in spite of the ground and in spite of the trip.
“He’ll eventually be a three-miler and is learning on the job. He races behind the bridle quite lazily, but every time Sam asks him he comes.
“We haven’t had one like this for a while, I think. He’ll only do as much as he’s asked to do at home and that’s a sign of a very good horse.
“I’ve told the owners this horse has been the apple of my eye for a while – everything he does at home pleases dad and I a lot. I promise you we haven’t seen anywhere near the best of him yet.”
Path d’Oroux (left) in action at Cheltenham (David Davies/PA)
Path d’Oroux (8-15 favourite) survived a scare to belatedly open his account over fences in the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Novices’ Chase.
Although winless in 10 previous chase starts, Gavin Cromwell’s charge has been placed in several high-class contests, most notably finishing third in the Grand Annual at the Festival in March.
Cromwell saddled more winners at Cheltenham than all but the all-conquering Willie Mullins last season with nine in all, including a treble at this fixture 12 months ago, and the County Meath handler was delighted to get the campaign off to a flying start once more.
“It’s a great start and I’m delighted for the horse. It was a messy race, they went very slow and it turned into a sprint, but he got the job done,” he said.
“At the end of last season we said this was where he was going to go. We won this race last year with My Mate Mozzie and it’s great to win it again with this lad.”
Cromwell added: “He’s probably not good enough to mix it with the Grade One novices, but at the same time he has plenty of experience and early in the season he might just have the upper hand.”
Henry Daly’s Wyenot (7-1) became the first winner of the new season at Prestbury Park with a determined display in the curtain-raising Foundation Developments Handicap Hurdle.
“That is her style of running – she runs and jumps and loves good ground, so it all sort of fitted,” said Daly.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/277956748-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-10-25 16:03:182024-10-25 16:03:18‘It’s magic’ – McCain-Mitchell lives up to family history
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Broadway Boy will get his campaign under way at Cheltenham on Saturday in the William Hill Committed To Top Prices Handicap Chase.
The six-year-old has an almost flawless record at the track having won three of his four runs around the Prestbury Park venue.
He was victorious there on his final hurdles start and was the runner-up behind Flooring Porter in a Cheltenham novice on his second start over fences.
He returned again to win a Listed chase next time out, and slotted in the last leg of the hat-trick when taking a valuable handicap over three miles and two furlongs in December.
Broadway Boy in action at Cheltenham (Nigel French/PA)
That was his final success of last term, but he has been pleasing connections in his preparation for the new season and is set to return to action on Saturday.
“He’s in fantastic form, he’s been training well and we’re very happy with him. We’re all looking forward to getting him started,” said assistant trainer Willy Twiston-Davies.
“Everything’s been spot on with him, we’re obviously hoping to get him off to a good start on Saturday if it’s not too dry. Then we’ll look towards what was the Hennessy (the Coral Gold Cup).
“He has a great record at Cheltenham and he seems to love the track, so we’re hoping for a big run.”
Kim Bailey’s Does He Know carries top-weight of 12st and Broadway Boy is not far behind him with 11st 11lb, whereas Richard Hobson’s Some Scope is at the other end of the spectrum.
🤞for the future with 6yr old staying chaser Some Scope who’s absolutely A1 this morning after his @CheltenhamRaces effort over 3mile2 he’s a Such a brilliant jumper very proud of your seasons form figures 1124 lovely prospect @rubicon_racing @carlhinchy👌 pic.twitter.com/dHr6NYnjWv
Carrying just 10st 2lb, the six-year-old will be ridden by Gavin Sheehan as he makes his seasonal bow after a productive time last term.
A smart winner of two handicap chases at Catterick and then Doncaster, the gelding then returned to the latter track to finish second to the aforementioned Does He Know in the Grimthorpe Chase.
A trip to Cheltenham followed for a three-mile-one-furlong handicap chase in which he finished a creditable fourth.
“He’s been very good, he finished last season on an OK run at Cheltenham, but we had rapeseed around us and it affected all the horses,” Hobson said.
“He had a hard enough race for a six-year-old in the Grimthorpe in testing conditions, which were not to his liking.
“He’s fresh and well and it will be nice to run him on some decent ground.
“It wasn’t a bad run at Cheltenham by any means, he just had a lot of work to do from where he was and I felt he might have been a bit below par from the issue with the rapeseed we were having at the time and him having had a hard race at Doncaster.
“He’ll improve for the run, most of ours do, and it’s not all about their first time out.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/274873704-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-10-25 12:38:112024-10-25 12:38:11Broadway Boy primed for Cheltenham opening act
There was a raiding success for Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies at the Punchestown Festival as Casa No Mento toughed it out to land a blow in the Close Brothers Mares Novice Hurdle.
The only horse able to claim Casa No Mento’s scalp this season is Harry Derham’s Queens Gamble and she was sent off a 4-1 chance for this Listed event as connections looked to join fellow British trainer Tom Lacey on the week’s scoresheet.
Leading the field into the home straight she pulled out all the stops to hold off Willie Mullins’ Got Glory, finding extra when it mattered to strike by a length and three-quarters.
— Irishracing.com Live (@IrishRacing365) May 2, 2024
“She’s exceptional. She is the only horse I’ve ever seen that can work with I Like To Move It,” said Willy Twiston-Davies, who is assistant to his father.
“We got dropped 2lb after getting beat by Queens Gamble and we were a bit disappointed, but Sam said she wasn’t herself. She’s three from four over hurdles and is the fastest filly we’ve ever had.
“I rang Patrick Mullins on Thursday when I was in Huntingdon and said ‘have you got the entries for Punchestown as I can’t see our filly in’. He sent me a screenshot and said ‘don’t’ worry she’s in there’.
“I asked him if it was worth bringing her over and he said she had every chance so a bit of the credit must go to him!”
Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies was smiling at Punchestown (Mike Egerton/PA)
He went on: “We’ve always thought she’s very good and she proved that today. I think she’ll be better again on faster ground.
“We’ll probably run her on the Flat now, she’s too fast – that’s her talent. Sam said whatever he wanted to do with her she was there, she’s a very pacy mare.
“It’s quite fun coming over here and beating the Irish. We had a second at Fairyhouse and dad said to me ‘what are you doing running another one at Punchestown?’.
“We have to come over a give it a go. Willie had five in, but you have to try to beat him. She’s a good mare and she deserves to be there. She’s no Lossiemouth, but she’s very good in her own right and we’ll enjoy today.”
Veteran campaigner Singing Banjo came to the fore to take the Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase for the second time.
Barry Walsh and Singing Banjo (Brian Lawless/PA)
The 14-year-old is a veritable specialist around the banks course, having won the race in 2021 as part of a famous double that also included the Ladies Perpetual Cup.
His experience served him well and after locking horns with Coko Beach and Three By Two he stayed on best of all triumph by three-quarters of a length.
“He just stays galloping all day, he needs a trip,” said Barry John Walsh, for was enjoying his first as a trainer as well as being the man in the saddle.
“He got hampered a little bit at the old double, it wasn’t ideal but he was hard and finished out strong.
“He loves the banks and we aim him for these races the whole time. The ground was just against us all season, he wants good ground.
“He won on firm here when taking the Ladies Cup and La Touche in one week. I was delighted to see it drying a bit here yesterday.
“He’s lightly-raced and we’ll see how he comes out of this. He’s declared for Saturday and we’ll see tomorrow how he is.
“We’d be hoping to get another season out of him for the cross-country, maybe at Cheltenham if the ground comes up good.”
The Listed Frontline Security Handicap Chase went the way of Noel Meade’s Pinkerton after a photo finish was required to split the first two over the line.
The winner went off at 15-2 under Sam Ewing and came out on top in a field of 17, prevailing by a short head just over a week after scoring at Tipperary.
“He came out of last week’s race great. I was a disappointed he didn’t win a bit easier there as it was a very ordinary contest, he struggled a bit and was maybe in front a bit long,” said Meade.
“Today when he went to the front he wandered a bit going to the last.
“It’s great for the owners to win here, he’s been a super little horse for them.
“He’s tough and the jockey is very good, he’s very strong.
“He mightn’t go on real quick ground, he wants an ease, but we’ll carry on for the moment and see how we go.”
Maxxum scoots clear to bag a valuable prize (Brian Lawless/PA)
Maxxum supplemented his Listed handicap victory at Leopardstown earlier in the season and plundered more valuable prize-money in the Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle.
He was sent off 28-1 in the hands of conditional Carl Miller when scoring at the Dublin Racing Festival and it was a case of history repeated as he obliged under the same jockey and same odds in Kildare.
Carl seems to only win 100 grand handicaps!” said winning trainer Gordon Elliott.
“He’s a great fella, he’s working full-time in the yard and he deserves every bit of success he’s getting.
“He doesn’t do anything wrong and keeps it very simple.
“He was running a great race the last day in Fairyhouse and took a false step after the second-last and fell. We came here fresh today, took a chance, and it worked out great.”
Elliott was also in the winner’s enclosure after the concluding JP & M Doyle (C & G) INH Flat Race as Wingmen showed a great attitude to win at odds of 18-1.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/276050050-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-05-02 18:59:062024-05-02 18:59:06Casa No Mento a famous Punchestown winner for Twiston-Davies
Jordan Nailor enjoyed one of his biggest days in the saddle when steering Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Beauport to bet365 Midlands Grand National glory at Uttoxeter.
The 25-year-old has regularly partnered the Bryan and Philippa Burrough-owned eight-year-old and was aboard when landing the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase in the autumn of 2022.
However, having been narrowly denied in the London National in December and then disappointing when last seen at Warwick in the Classic Chase in January, the duo’s triumph in the £150,000 contest was the perfect way to get back on track.
Beauport wins the bet365 Midlands Grand National Handicap Chase! 🏆
Sent off at odds of 18-1, Beauport was always handy despite hanging to his right as he was forced to chart a wide path around the Staffordshire track.
Moving into the home straight for the final time, he proved the biggest danger to Emma Lavelle’s My Silver Lining on the front end and after jumping the final obstacle locked together, they held a slim advantage with Mr Incredible and Autonomous Cloud also staying on not too far behind.
But it was the Twiston-Davies runner who had most left in reserve at the end of four and a quarter miles, staying on strongly to the line as the petrol tanks of his rivals began to empty.
Beauport and jockey Jordan Nailor after winning the bet365 Midlands Grand National (Nigel French.PA)
It is of course not the first time the Burrough colours have been worn to National success and the gelding’s trainer hopes he could one one day follow in the footsteps of Corbiere and line up at Aintree for the Grand National itself.
“It was really brilliant and really exciting,” said Twiston-Davies.
“It’s brilliant for Jordan as he’s had a bit of a quiet season and it was great, we’re all really happy.
“Jordan has won a few big races on him before and it all went well on the day. We have no idea why he ran so bad at Warwick but it all went better for him this time.
“I hope it will be the Grand National one day. The owners had Corbiere and he will hopefully follow in his footsteps.”
Jordan Nailor with the bet365 Midlands Grand National trophy (Nigel French/PA)
Nailor told Sky Sports Racing: “He went so well and his jumping was keeping him up there, so I just sat and let him travel. It wasn’t exactly plan A.
“He’s such a nice horse and has given me some brilliant days in my career. All the thanks go to Faye who rides him out every day and Carl (Llewellyn) and the owners and I’m very, very happy.
“He tries every time and we’ve had an up-and-down season. He was good in the London National but apart from that he hasn’t been himself really. It is nice to see him win another big one.
“This horse has been with me since I was a 5lb claimer, so all the way through to now it has been a brilliant partnership. It means an awful lot.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/275632837-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-03-16 16:10:312024-03-16 16:10:31Beauport bags Midlands National glory
Broadway Boy was found to be suffering from stomach ulcers after he disappointed at Warwick behind Grey Dawning.
Having won three of his first four outings over fences, the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained novice was prominent in the betting for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase next month.
However, having been harried for the lead he was beaten approaching the second last and finished over 30 lengths behind Grey Dawning.
Whether he now steps up in trip for the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham or goes for the Grade One Brown Advisory has still to be decided.
“It’s completely up in the air and there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge yet,” said assistant trainer Willy Twiston-Davies.
Broadway Boy has valuable Cheltenham form in the book (David Davies/PA)
“It’s been narrowed down to either the Brown Advisory or the National Hunt Chase but that is it, we’re not sure yet and we’ll make a decision the week before, probably. Both options are definitely open.
“It will be a case of seeing who goes where and what the ground is looking like.
“He’d be close to the top of the ratings for the National Hunt Chase whereas he might have to improve slightly for the Brown Advisory, but we’ll see nearer the time.
“He scoped badly after Warwick and then we also found that he had stomach ulcers as well, but we’re back on track now.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/274873702-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-02-14 14:15:172024-02-14 14:15:17Excuses emerge for lacklustre Broadway show
Nigel Twiston-Davies has paid tribute to his star mare Zambella after her retirement from racing.
Owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, Zambella joined the Twiston-Davies team in 2019 and would go on to win nine times in the owners’ famous double green silks.
Winner of 12 of her 29 starts overall, she struck eight times at Listed level with her final outing coming when pulled up in search of a third victory in Doncaster’s Yorkshire Silver Vase Mares’ Chase.
Zambella was a standing dish in the two-and-a-half-mile mares’ chases (Richard Sellers/PA)
Twiston-Davies said: “She has been brilliant, she jumped beautifully and was so genuine and it is a great shame she has got to retire, but she will breed some lovely foals I think.”
Zambella also won the Houghton Mares’ Chase for three successive years and by a combined winning distance of over 35 lengths such was her dominance in a race that was twice ran at Aintree when rescheduled from its usual home of Carlisle.
She competed three times at the Cheltenham Festival in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase, falling when travelling strongly three from the finish in 2021 before returning to Prestbury Park to finish fourth in the following two years.
“She was the best of the British but then the Irish would come over and beat her at the Festival,” continued Twiston-Davies.
“But otherwise she was best of the Brits and there are lots of highlights. We hope we can find another one.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/257034575-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-01-03 12:17:032024-01-03 12:17:03Twiston-Davies hails ‘brilliant’ Zambella as mare bows out
Master Chewy made light work of his rivals to run out a decisive winner of the Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ six-year-old has bumped into the high-class novice Djelo and on-song Elixir De Nutz since scoring at Aintree earlier in the season and was sent off at 13-8 to get back to winning ways in this Grade Two event.
Master Chewy’s rider Tom Bellamy was content to bide his time as Bourbali and Sarah Humphrey’s Nickle Back matched strides up front, putting on an exhibition of jumping.
However, Master Chewy was hot on that duo’s heels after four out and with Bourbali giving way after the third-last, Bellamy was stalking Nickle Back down to two out before sauntering his way to the front approaching the last.
A huge leap at the final fence put the seal on victory as he came home four-and-three-quarter-lengths clear of the 6-5 favourite for a taking success.
Willy Twiston-Davies is assistant to his father and said: “You can’t knock his form at all as he has been very good. He has been called a few names, but I think it is important that he gets there late.
“He was beaten by a more experienced rival last time then at Aintree they took three fences out up the home straight and that completely mucked him up as his jumping is where he gets his air in his lungs and that helps him and that is why he is so much better over fences than hurdles.
“Tom said he gave him a squeeze going to three out and he was then straight back on the bridle. He is a very pacey horse.
“I’m delighted for Jamie and Anne-Marie (Shepperd, owners) as they are very big supporters of the yard. It is great to get them a big winner over Christmas.
“This will never make up for I Like To Move It (who was fatally injured earlier in the season for the same owners) as he was so special, but it is so nice to repay Jamie and Anne-Marie and give them good winners on the big days as they put a lot into our yard. It is lovely to support them to.
“We have got a really good squad and a really good bunch of owners who keep supporting us. We are allowed to buy what we want, and we are left to it. We are very lucky as we don’t have too much stress.”
On plans, Twiston-Davies said: “He is very talented. We will either look at the Kingmaker at Warwick or the Lightning with him at Lingfield before Cheltenham. He is a very decent horse.
“We will then see how goes after that. The Arkle can often be a small field, so why not (give it a go).”
Broadway Boy continued his steep upward trajectory over fences with a determined victory in the Favourite From The Sun Now Daily Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.
The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained five-year-old had won two of his first three starts since having his attentions switched to the larger obstacles, his only defeat coming at the hands of dual Stayers’ Hurdle hero Flooring Porter at this track in October.
Having since returned to Cheltenham to win a Listed novice event by 20 lengths, Broadway Boy was a heavily supported 11-8 favourite stepping into a £100,000 handicap that featured a Betfair Chase winner and Gold Cup third in Protektorat – and the Twiston-Davies runner proved more than up to the task.
Connections pose with Broadway Boy in the Cheltenham winner’s enclosure (Nigel French/PA)
Given an attacking ride from the front by the trainer’s son Sam, the Malinas gelding did make a couple of jumping errors along the way but was always doing enough on the run-in to see off his long-time challenger Threeunderthrufive by a length and a quarter.
Dan Skelton can rightly take plenty of heart from the performance of Protektorat, who bounced back from a disappointing defence of his Betfair Chase crown at Haydock last month to finish an honourable third under the welter burden of 12 stone.
Of the winner, Twiston-Davies senior said: “His jumping was brilliant on the whole, but he made three mistakes down the back and if it wasn’t for those, he would have won quite easily. He is very tough and really good.
“After the last day, this race came onto the agenda. We are always looking for big money and this race was worth a lot of money.
“We certainly do like pitching novice chasers against experienced horses when we get the chance. We have done all our lives, and we have earned a lot of money doing that.
“I was delighted when Protektorat was declared to keep the weights down – it meant the world to us.
“He could go for either the National Hunt Chase or the Brown Advisory come the Festival. We will just have to see what the opposition looks like before making those decisions.”
Jonjo O’Neill senior and junior combined to land the John Wyke Memorial Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase with 5-1 shot Are U Wise To That.
Are U Wise To That on his way to victory (Nigel French/PA)
The six-year-old travelled like the best horse in the race for much of the extended three-mile-one-furlong contest, but looked set to come off second best when Irish raider Midnight Our Fred kicked a couple of lengths clear between the final two fences.
To his credit, though, Are U Wise To That gritted his teeth to stay in the fight and finished the stronger of the pair up the hill to prevail by a length and three-quarters.
“When he missed the second-last, I thought he was beaten, to be honest,” said the winning trainer. “Then he jumped the last okay, but he stuck to his guns well, to be fair, so we are happy.
“His jumping was average, but he has got around. He does it in his own fashion, but he won nicely.
“It is nice to know that he can get around Cheltenham and you would have to look at the Ultima at the Festival with him.”
Madara (right) and Harry Cobden knuckle down on the run-in (Nigel French/PA)
The Sophie Leech-trained Madara secured top honours in the two-mile Quintessentially Handicap Chase.
Favourite backers will have been getting excited after In Excelsis Deo moved to the front, but 9-1 shot Madara proved too strong on the run-in and passed the post with three and a quarter lengths in hand.
Leech said: “I’m absolutely delighted. He is a lovely young horse to have and he is very straightforward. He is just a joy really.
“We really felt after his last run that he needed further, and we were really keen to run in the December Gold Cup, but because of his four-year-old allowance, Fakir D’Oudairies put us so far out of the weights it just wasn’t worthwhile.
“Hopefully, he will be back here in March somewhere.”
The concluding Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Mares’ Handicap Hurdle went to 11-2 shot Nurse Susan, trained by Dan Skelton and ridden by his brother Harry.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/274873702-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2023-12-16 15:56:382023-12-16 15:56:38Broadway Boy puts on another show at Cheltenham
Tom Bellamy cut a delighted figure as he steered Broadway Boy to an emphatic success at Cheltenham on Saturday.
Second to Flooring Porter over course and distance last month, he was sent off the 9-4 joint favourite for the Listed From The Horse’s Mouth Podcast Novices’ Chase and was given a bold ride by his pilot, which paid dividend as he scorched 20 lengths clear of stablemate Weveallbeencaught climbing the hill.
The five-year-old was introduced into the Brown Advisory betting at 20-1 with Coral and trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies could now test the waters in Graded company, having thrilled connections with his brilliant display.
Jockey Tom Bellamy celebrates with Willie Twiston-Davies (David Davies for the Jockey Club/PA)
He said: “I thought he was very impressive and he beat our other horse a long way – and he is pretty good, so happy days.
“Funnily enough, he didn’t school very well when he started but he soon warmed up to it.
“It was a good run (behind Flooring Porter) and he’s improved for it. I think we will stay over three at the minute, he seems to have plenty of speed but let’s see.
“There’s no point rushing into anything at the moment and we will see how he comes out of it, but there is always the three-mile race at Kempton (Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on Boxing Day) and that is a possibility, we will see.”
Paul Gilligan could have a Stayers’ Hurdle candidate on his hands having watched his son Jack boot home Buddy One in the Paddy Power Games Handicap Hurdle.
Third to Iroko in the Martin Pipe at the Festival in March, the improving six-year-old thrived at Galway last month and obliged favourite backers on his first try at three miles.
“To watch your son come up the hill on a horse you train, it’s heaven,” said Gilligan.
“This is a special place, a field of dreams, it can be heaven or it can be hell. It can be anything and when you go home after horses run bad, it’s a nightmare, but the dream has come true there now.
“He was really unlucky in the Martin Pipe, but he was straight as a gun-barrel there when he jumped the last. This is magic and it’s just a pity my wife isn’t here today, she’s at home keeping the yard going but this is heaven.
“Today is just so special, my son riding him and another leading him up. There’s a lot of us here and there will be a lot of people happy in Galway today.”
The Buddy One team celebrate their Cheltenham win (Nigel French/PA)
Handicaps are now off the table for the 9-4 winner, who could take in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse next, but who ultimately will be back at Prestbury Park in March for a crack at the Festival’s day-three feature.
“I didn’t think he would be beaten today – his Galway run was really good and after winning this race off top-weight, he is out of handicaps now. Possibly, depending on how he comes out of the race, he could go to the Hatton’s Grace. We will have to meet Willie and Gordon there, but why not.
“I thought after Galway he might go to the Pertemps but there is no point going Pertemps. It’s quite possible he will come back here for the Stayers’ Hurdle.”
Another with Graded ambitions is Springwell Bay (85-40 favourite), who justified Jonjo O’Neill’s long-held belief he was a smart operator with a taking victory in the Paddy Power Intermediate Handicap Hurdle.
The six-year-old may now head to the Relkeel Hurdle back at Prestbury Park on New Year’s Day, with O’Neill dreaming he could replicate the exploits of owner Gay Smith’s Blackjack Ketchum at some stage in the future.
Springwell Bay clears the last on the way to victory at Cheltenham (Nigel French/PA)
He said: “I hope he will be (a Pattern horse) and he needed to do that today to be that type of horse. You would have to be thinking of it (Relkeel Hurdle) and those are the races you have to be looking at.
“I liked what I saw, but I didn’t come here with lots of confidence. We’ve been very lucky (for the owner) and let’s hope he is another Blackjack Ketchum.
“If he’s as good as him, he’ll do. We’ll let the horse do the talking. We’re happy today, that was a nice starting point and we have a nice horse to go to war with.”
There was a win for Gavin Cromwell’s Hascoeur Clermont (12-1) in the Wienerberger Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase, while in the same race there was a 20-day ban handed out to Billy Coonan for his ride aboard Tony Martin’s Read To Return.
Although backed into favouritism, the young rider was adjudged to have failed to take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race to obtain the best possible placing, having been 15 lengths down at the last before staying on into fifth.
There was further joy for Ireland when Willie Mullins’ Baby Kate (7-2) took the concluding Karndean Designflooring Mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race.
The four-year-old, who is a daughter of Augusta Kate, was bred by former footballer Kevin Doyle and with Listed honours secured, could go in search of further black type in the new year.
“We were lucky to lease her off Kevin Doyle and the lads (owners, Gorm Agus Ban Syndicate) are a group of local lads and they are living the dream,” said Patrick Mullins.
“She didn’t win impressively at Ballinrobe but I thought the penny only dropped late with her. We wanted black type and it was either come here or Navan and we thought the ground might be slightly nicer here.
“She’s one of the smallest horses in the yard, she’s tiny, but she’s strong and she has ability.
“For Kevin, who owns her and leased her to us, it’s fantastic to get black type for him with that pedigree and we’ll look at all the black type bumpers in the spring now. We’ll probably go to the Dublin Racing Festival first, then see where we go after that.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/274603383-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2023-11-18 17:20:592023-11-18 17:20:59Broadway Boy benefits from bold ride by Bellamy
geegeez.co.uk uses cookies to improve your experience. We assume that's OK, but you may opt-out from the settings. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
