Tag Archive for: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Bristol De Mai heading for honourable retirement

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Time has been called on the glittering career of hugely-popular chaser Bristol De Mai following his run at Haydock on Saturday.

Owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained grey was victorious six times at his beloved Merseyside venue, including a hat-trick of victories in the Betfair Chase between 2017 and 2020.

Bristol De Mai also won the 2016 Altcar Novices’ Chase, the 2017 Peter Marsh Chase and last year’s Grand National Trial at Haydock, but finished well beaten when bidding for back-to-back wins in the latter contest at the weekend.

Connections now feel the time has come to give him an honourable retirement.

Munir wrote on Twitter: “Team Double Green are announcing the retirement of Bristol De Mai.

“It has been a privilege to own him. Bristol has been a legend and retires 100% sound & happy. Our thanks to Nigel, Sparky (Richard Bevis), Daryl (Jacob) & all at Grange Farm.

“It has been a wonderful journey that he has taken us all on!”

It is nine years since Bristol De Mai was bought out of Guillaume Macaire’s yard in the France and he made an immediate impact by providing Munir and Souede with their first Grade One success in the 2014 Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow.

In all he won 12 times, with his big-race haul also including the 2016 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown and the 2017 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

The 12-year-old amassed over £900,000 in prize-money and while his owners are enjoying an excellent season, with Blue Lord and El Fabiolo both winning Grade Ones and heading to next month’s Cheltenham Festival as leading contenders, Bristol De Mai will undoubtedly always have a special place in their hearts.

Bristol De Mai on the gallops
Bristol De Mai on the gallops (Andrew Matthews/PA)

The aforementioned Jacob was a masterful partner of Bristol De Mai, being in the saddle for nine of his 12 victories – including the three Betfair Chases.

He told sportinglife.com: “What a legend of a horse Bristol has been and he’s been a pleasure to ride.

“I’ve enjoyed so many good days on him and some special days with my family too – the kids have grown to love him over the years so he’ll always be remembered fondly.

“His best performance was probably his second Betfair Chase, when he got the better of Native River, Thistlecrack, Clan Des Obeaux and Might Bite.

“The third Betfair gave me a huge amount of pleasure, but in terms of actual performance it was that second win, beating Gold Cup winners.”

I Like To Move it claims Kingwell crown

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Nigel Twiston-Davies’ I Like To Move It was a facile victor of the Wincanton Jennings Bet Kingwell Hurdle.

The six-year-old, who was last seen finishing sixth in the Grade Two Relkeel Hurdle, was one of a small field of four runners and sent off a 100-30 chance.

Partnered by the trainer’s son Sam, under whom the gelding won the Greatwood in November, I Like To Move it was ridden patiently throughout the one-mile-seven-furlong trip.

Turning for home he began to pull away, jumping the last in the lead and then accelerating away from Paul Nicholls’ Knappers Hill to score by an easy 17 lengths in the Grade Two.

Sam Twiston-Davies said: “It was an impressive performance.

“Dad and I were speaking on the way down. If you were to make a race for him, it would be the International Hurdle over a stiff two miles at Cheltenham but we have come today to one of the easiest two-mile tracks on good ground and he has looked as fast as ever. He’s an incredibly pacey horse at home and he showed that today.

“The two options at Cheltenham are the County Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle. God knows what he will be rated after today, so I think it’s only fair he goes and has a go at the Champion Hurdle.

“Obviously Constitution Hill is an aeroplane, but there is massive money on offer and he deserves to be there. To go and win is going to be incredibly tough, but it’s horseracing and you never know. He is still a young horse and we are lucky to have him.”

The winning handler felt dropping back in distance had proved crucial.

He said: “That was good, wasn’t it! Two and a half miles at Cheltenham last time was no good for him but brought back to two miles, we were certainly hopeful today.

“I know we can’t get anywhere near Constitution Hill, but we will give him something to think about (in the Champion Hurdle) and where else can we go after a performance like that?

“We were totally knackered by the International Hurdle being off, which he would have won with his head in his chest as you have seen today. But he is back again and Cheltenham here we come!

“He is right up there with the best hurdlers I have trained like The New One and Khyber Kim, who was second in the Champion Hurdle.”

Cuthbert Dibble trumps Leicester rivals

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Cuthbert Dibble made it third time lucky at Leicester when taking the EBF British Stallion Studs ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle on Wednesday.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained 6-4 favourite had finished third behind some useful rivals at the track in his two hurdles outings so far and thrived for the step up in trip in this two-and-a-half-mile contest to record an easy 19-length success in the hands of the trainer’s son Sam.

The race served as a qualifier for the final of the EBF series at Sandown om March 11 and his handler confirmed that would be the target for this talented five-year-old, who Twiston-Davies envisages becoming a three-mile chaser in time.

He said: “He’s been superb both times here before when showing he needed further and the step up in trip has definitely helped him.

“He’s a stayer and he outstayed them all today – they went quick early on and he outstayed them.

“The idea is he is a three-mile chaser and I think he is definitely that in the making.”

On Sandown, he added: “We would certainly look at that. He may have to have four runs to go there and in which case we will have one more.”

Leicestershire-based owners Graham and Alison Jelley have enjoyed plenty of success with horses trained by Twiston-Davies in the past and were delighted to see their latest charge strike a telling blow at their local track.

“It got a little bit frustrating when he was running well but not quite winning over two miles, but we always knew he needed further and today the proof was in the pudding,” said Graham Jelley.

“It’s our local track and Nigel tries to keep his owners local in their novice stages if we can. We’ve had a good lot of success here, it’s a nice track for novices, whether that is over hurdles or fences.”

Milton Harris was not at Leicester to see Jacamar (2-1 favourite) make a drop in class count to grind out victory in the Leicester Racecourse Ideal Conference Venue Handicap Chase, but was thrilled to hear the news and hopes the victory restores the eight-year-old’s confidence before a return to more challenging company.

He said: “He was due a win and ran a really creditable race in a hot handicap at Cheltenham last time.

“On his day he’s a solid Saturday afternoon handicapper, but we wanted to give him a confidence booster and I suppose we will go back to somewhere like Kempton for a bit better race on a weekend now.

“I am delighted and the horse has been a sensation, he’s been very good for the yard and for the owners. Mark and Maria Adams are very big supporters of our yard and I’m delighted to get another winner for them.”

Jacamar was part one of a Paddy Brennan double, with Fergal O’Brien’s Accidental Legend providing the second leg in the concluding Next Meeting @leicesterraces Thursday 16th February Handicap Hurdle.

The win brought up a hat-trick for the Shirocco gelding, who was sent off the 13-8 second favourite and relished the testing conditions.

“He’s owned by my sponsor Nic Brereton of Bresbet, so there’s always a little bit more pressure when it’s for someone putting so much for the yard,” said O’Brien.

“But I was delighted with him today, he’s a lovely horse who will hopefully take to fences at some point – a long-distance chaser is what he will be.

“Paddy says that ground felt good on him today, so if it dried up at all we’d finish him up – he’s a proper winter horse. He wasn’t stopping and Paddy knew what he had underneath him. He loves an old battle and it’s great that he stuck his neck out.”

Another horse to enjoy the deep ground was David Pipe’s Heure De Gloire (100-30) who was given a fine ride from Tom Scudamore to make all in the racingtv.com Golden Miller Mares’ Handicap Hurdle, while the opening Leicester Racecourse Ideal Self-Hire Wedding Venue Claiming Hurdle went the way of Samuel Drinkwater’s No Rematch (9-4).

Heure De Gloire ridden by Tom Scudamore on their way to winning the racingtv.com Golden Miller Mares’ Handicap Hurdle at Leicester Racecourse
Heure De Gloire ridden by Tom Scudamore on their way to winning the racingtv.com Golden Miller Mares’ Handicap Hurdle at Leicester Racecourse (Tim Goode/PA)

The Best Ticket Deals Online @ leicesterracecourse.co.uk Novices’ Handicap Chase was claimed by Pam Sly’s Mixedwave (7-2), who jumped excellently in the hands of Alex Edwards to open his chasing account at the second time of asking.

“It was only his second run over fences, but he’s slow. I couldn’t believe they made him nearly favourite because he’s so slow,” said Sly.

“He had no weight but Alex Edwards gave him an excellent ride – he’s some horseman.

“I have to thank Paul O’Brien because he has schooled him and schooled him until he was nearly foot perfect.”

Weveallbeencaught poised for Leopardstown raid

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Nigel Twiston-Davies is prepared to take on the might of the Irish with Weveallbeencaught at this weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown.

While the Naunton handler has enjoyed multiple victories at the Punchestown Festival over the years, he has saddled just one previous runner at Leopardstown, with Moorish finishing down the field in the richly-endowed Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle some 25 years ago.

Weveallbeencaught, a £210,000 purchase after winning an Irish point-to-point, made a successful debut for his new connections in a Newbury bumper last season and made a promising start over hurdles when third behind subsequent Challow winner Hermes Allen in a Grade Two at Cheltenham in November.

The six-year-old went on to justify favouritism in a maiden hurdle at Prestbury Park on New Year’s Day, beating Saturday’s Cheltenham winner Rock My Way, and will step up to Grade One level in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors “50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff” Novice Hurdle.

“That’s the plan. It was good to see the horse that was second to him winning at Cheltenham on Saturday. We’re very happy,” said Twiston-Davies.

“The owners wanted to go to Ireland. We’re going to have a crack and we’ll see how we do.”

Weveallbeencaught is an 8-1 shot with Paddy Power for the Dublin Racing Festival curtain-raiser, with Barry Connell’s Good Land heading the market at 2-1.

Other likely contenders for the two-mile-six-furlong contest on the opening afternoon include Henry de Bromhead’s Hiddenvalley Lake, the Paul Nolan-trained Sandor Clegane and American Mike from Gordon Elliott’s yard.

Stat of the Day, 1st February 2020

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Friday's pick was...

3.05 Catterick : Casual Cavalier @ 11/4 BOG WON at 5/1 (Tracked leaders, disputed lead from 7th, led 4 out, 3 lengths clear 2 out, ridden out flat, held on near finish) - a very satisfactory end to a frustrating month that also started well, but had a serious dip in the middle!

Saturday's pick runs in the...

2.40 Musselburgh :

Before I post the daily selection, just a quick reminder of how I operate the service. Generally, I'll identify and share the selection in the evening before the following day's race and I then add a detailed write-up later on that night/next morning.

Those happy to take the early price on trust can do so, whilst some might prefer to wait for my reasoning. As I fit the early service in around my family life, I can't give an exact timing on the posts, so I suggest you follow us on Twitter and/or Facebook for instant notifications of a published pick.

Who?

Locker Room Talk @ 3/1 BOG

...in the 10-runner, Class 3, Scottish Champion Chase (Handicap for the Bowes-Lyon trophy) for 5yo+ over 2m on Good to Soft ground worth £13,256 to the winner...

Why?...

This 7 yr old gelding has made the frame in 8 of his 9 starts (5 over hrds and then 4 over fences) during the past 12 months, winning four times. His record over fences reads 3311 including successes at 1m7.5f and 2m0.5f and als0 at this Class 3 level and a grade higher.

To date, he was won 4 of 12 (33.33% SR), including the following applicable today...

  • 4/9 going right handed
  • 4/8 after 2 to 7 weeks rest
  • 4/4 at Evens to 6/1
  • 3/8 at 15.5 to 16.5 furlongs
  • 3/5 during December to March
  • and 2/2 in handicap chases

He has travelled a long way to run here today, but his trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies does well when far from home. Since the start of 2016, his NH non-Festival runners sent off at odds of 6/5 to 8/1 at tracks more than 200 miles from home are 12 from 51 (23.5% SR) for 10.4pts (+20.4% ROI), including the following of relevance here...

  • 12/46 (26.1%) for 15.4pts (+33.4%) during October-March
  • 12/45 (26.7%) for 16.4pts (+36.4%) at 240-340 miles from home
  • 11/33 (33.3%) for 18.9pts (+57.4%) in races worth £4k to £14k
  • 9/34 (26.5%) for 17.3pts (+50.8%) over the last two years
  • 5/24 (20.8%) for 3.42pts (+14.3%) at Class 3
  • 5/16 (31.25%) for 12.2pts (+76.1%) after 1 to 4 weeks rest
  • 5/11 (45.5%) for 18.4pts (+167.2%) during Feb/March
  • 4/13 (30.8%) for 11pts (+84.4%) on Good to Soft
  • and 4/11 (36.4%) for 9.13pts (+83%) from LTO winners

...whilst during October to March over the last two years at 240-340 miles from home in races worth £4-14k, those runners are 8/20 (40% SR) 21.8pts (+109% ROI), including...

  • 4/11 (36.4%) at Class 3
  • 4/6 (66.6%) in Feb/March
  • 3/7 (42.9%) on Good to Soft
  • 3/5 (60%) after 1-4 weeks rest
  • and 2/4 (50%) from LTO winners...

...giving us...a 1pt win bet on Locker Room Talk @ 3/1 BOG as was widely available at 8.05am Saturday morning (but please check your BOG status first). To see what your preferred bookie is quoting...

...click here for the betting on the 2.40 Musselburgh

Don't forget, we offer a full interactive racecard service every day!

REMINDER: THERE IS NO STAT OF THE DAY ON SUNDAYS

Here is today's racecard

P.S. all P/L returns quoted in the stats above are to Betfair SP, as I NEVER bet to ISP and neither should you. I always use BOG bookies for SotD, wherever possible, but I use BFSP for the stats as it is the nearest approximation I can give, so I actually expect to beat the returns I use to support my picks. If that's unclear, please ask!

P.P.S. I'm away for the weekend from lunchtime Friday until Monday afternoon, so whilst I'll do my best to stick to the usual timetable, it might not possible, but there'll definitely be picks from me for Saturday & Monday.

Stat of the Day, 1st January 2020

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New Year's Eve's pick was...

3.20 Lingfield : Knockout Blow @ 11/4 BOG 4th at 11/4 (Mid-division, headway over 1f out, never nearer)

New Year's Day's pick runs in the...

12.15 Cheltenham :

Before I post the daily selection, just a quick reminder of how I operate the service. Generally, I'll identify and share the selection in the evening before the following day's race and I then add a detailed write-up later on that night/next morning.

Those happy to take the early price on trust can do so, whilst some might prefer to wait for my reasoning. As I fit the early service in around my family life, I can't give an exact timing on the posts, so I suggest you follow us on Twitter and/or Facebook for instant notifications of a published pick.

Who?

Redford Road @ 3/1 and Betfair SP

...in the 6-runner, Listed, Ballymore Novices Hurdle for 4yo+ over 2m4½f on Soft ground worth £14,238 to the winner...

Why?...

This 6 yr old gelding was a Grade 2 winner here at Cheltenham on his last start 18 days ago and although he now takes a drop in trip, he has won at 2m4f over hurdles in the past. In fact he's never been out of the first two home in five starts, winning three times and never beaten by more than a length, including...

  • 3 from 3 going left handed
  • 2 wins and a second from 3 over hurdles (all Novice events)
  • 2 from 2 under jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
  • a win and a second from 2 on Soft ground
  • and 1 from 1 here at Cheltenham

Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies' hurdlers who won last time out are 31 from 99 (31.3% SR) for 17.1pts (+17.3% ROI) when sent off at odds of Evens to 13/2 over the past four years, including of relevance today...

  • 31/97 (32%) for 19.1pts (+19.7%) with males
  • 25/67 (37.3%) for 30.2pts (+45.1%) with 5/6 yr olds
  • 11/19 (57.9%) for 22.4pts (+117.7%) over trips of 2m3½f to 2m4½f
  • 9/30 (30%) for 1.5pts (+5%) on soft ground
  • 5/19 (26.3%) for 2.4pts (+12.4%) here at HQ
  • 5/10 (50%) for 8.26pts (+82.6%) in January
  • and 4/4 (100%) for 10.6pts (+265%) from those dropping in trip by 4-5 furlongs

...whilst from the above...5-6 yr old males racing over 2m3½f to 2m4½f are 9/15 (60% SR) for 21.53pts (+143.5% ROI) including 4/7 on soft, 2/2 in Jan, 2/2 dropping 4-5f and 1/1 at Chelts...

...giving us...0.5pts at Betfair SP and a 0.5pt win bet on Redford Road @ 3/1 as was available from Paddy Power & Betfair at 6.40pm on New Year's Eve. To see what your preferred bookie is quoting...

...click here for the betting on the 12.15 Cheltenham

Don't forget, we offer a full interactive racecard service every day!

REMINDER: THERE IS NO STAT OF THE DAY ON SUNDAYS

Here is today's racecard

P.S. all P/L returns quoted in the stats above are to Betfair SP, as I NEVER bet to ISP and neither should you. I always use BOG bookies for SotD, wherever possible, but I use BFSP for the stats as it is the nearest approximation I can give, so I actually expect to beat the returns I use to support my picks. If that's unclear, please ask!