Nigel
Twiston-Davies has won the Paddy Power Gold Cup three times, making him the
most successful current trainer in the race.
He
saddles Astracad for the £160,000 handicap chase and showed his string
to media on the gallops at his Grange Hill Farm yard near Naunton in
Gloucestershire this morning (Tuesday, November 12). Paddy Power price up
Astracad at 25/1.
The
trainer said: "Astracad is likely to be our runner in the Paddy Power Gold
Cup. He ran a very good race at Aintree last time and was just mugged on the
line.
"He
wants good ground, which it looks like it is going to be, but if it did go soft
he would run in the two-mile handicap on the Friday.
"He
likes the track at Cheltenham, but it is a handicap and he has been creeping up
it all the time. He has been paying for his consistency but should be bang
there.
"He
doesn't have a similar profile to any of our previous winners because he isn't
a second season chaser. The likes of Imperial Commander had a lot in hand, but
Astracad is more exposed.
"Double
Ross would only run in the Paddy Power Gold Cup if the ground is soft as he
wants further. I would say he is unlikely at this stage.
"The
Open is definitely a pointer towards March and is the third biggest festival of
the season.
"You
have the Cheltenham Festival, the Grand National festival and then The Open.
There are plenty of good races with excellent prize money and it's always great
to win one."
Nigel
Twiston-Davies initially combined training as a permit-holder with his farming
interests throughout the 1980s, having his first winner with Last Of The Foxes
at Hereford in March, 1982, before the agricultural recession prompted him to
make training his full-time profession.
He took
out a full training licence in 1989, recording his first win as a public
trainer in December of that year with Babil at Newbury. He has since gone on to
register more than 1,500 successes.
Born on
May 16, 1957, Twiston-Davies rode 17 winners as an amateur under Rules and
gained a further 17 point-to-point victories, and served as assistant trainer
to Richard Head and Fred Rimell.
A
childhood neighbour and friend of Peter Scudamore, he went into partnership
with the former champion jump jockey to set up stables at Grange Hill Farm,
Guiting Power, Gloucestershire, although Scudamore is no longer involved in the
venture and currently assists Lucinda Russell.
Twiston-Davies
adopted and developed the pioneering techniques of Martin Pipe, such as
interval training and regular blood tests for his string, enabling him to
rapidly raise his profile among the training ranks.
He is
the only current trainer to have won the Grand National more than once,
saddling Earth Summit to victory in 1998 and Bindaree four years later.
The
2001/2002 campaign had been relatively quiet by Twiston-Davies' high standards
before Bindaree provided him with his second John Smith's Grand National
success. Afterwards he revealed that he had been intending to give up training,
but despite "having a bigger debt than Argentina" after buying out
Scudamore, the Aintree victory made him have a change of heart.
Twiston-Davies
has achieved 15 successes at the Cheltenham Festival, headed by Imperial
Commander in the 2010 Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup. He had two winners at the
meeting this year - The New One in the Neptune Investment Management Novices'
Hurdle and Same Difference in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase.
Other
big-race successes include the bet365 Gold Cup with Beau, the Hennessy Gold Cup
with King's Road, the Scottish Grand National with Captain Dibble (1992), Earth
Summit (1994) and Hello Bud (2009), the Welsh Grand National with Earth Summit
(1997) and Bindaree (2003) and the Betfair Chase with Imperial Commander
(2010).
He has
enjoyed 25 winners at The Open since 1990 and is the second most successful
trainer at the three-day meeting. He is also the most successful current
trainer in the feature race, the
Paddy Power Gold Cup, with three victories (1992 Tipping Tim, 2008 Imperial Commander, 2010 Little Josh).
Paddy Power Gold Cup, with three victories (1992 Tipping Tim, 2008 Imperial Commander, 2010 Little Josh).
His
best season numerically was in 2010/11, when he saddled 97 winners.
His
sons Sam and William are both jockeys. Sam is stable jockey to his father,
while William, who also started out over Jumps is now a Flat apprentice.
Sam
Twiston-Davies
Born
October 15, 1992, Sam Twiston-Davies was still studying for AS-level exams at
school in Gloucestershire when he had both his first Cheltenham Festival winner
and first Grand National ride, as one of racing's most accomplished amateur
riders.
The son
of trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies and his estranged wife, Cathy, (who both rode
as amateurs), Sam was successful in pony racing before starting in
point-to-points in the 2008/09 season when becoming eligible at the age of 16.
Within
a few weeks, on December 28, 2008, he rode his first winner between the flags,
taking a race at Cottenham in Cambridgeshire on Grenfell, trained by his
mother.
At
Ludlow on February 18, 2009, he scored his first success under Rules when
partnering Baby Run, owned and trained by Nigel, to victory in a hunter chase.
A
career that was bound to flourish gained added lift through Baby Run, for he
and Sam went on to finish third in the following month's CGA Foxhunter Chase at
the 2009 Cheltenham Festival and later gained one of the season's biggest
prizes in the Champion Hunters' Chase at the Punchestown Festival.
Sam and
Baby Run capped that in March, 2010, when returning to Cheltenham and running
out easy winners of the CGA Foxhunter Chase at The Festival. Sam then went to
Aintree and partnered Hello Bud into fifth on his Grand National debut. He
turned professional shortly afterwards.
Sam has
a younger brother, William, who took over on Baby Run in the 2011 CGA Foxhunter
Chase, only to be unseated when leading at the second-last fence although he
landed the Fox Hunters' Chase at Aintree on the horse a few weeks later.
Sam
partnered Hello Bud to victory in the 2010 Becher Chase over the Grand National
course at Aintree and that same month gave Little Josh a brilliant ride to land
the Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
Twiston-Davies
had his best ever season in terms of number of winners (87) in 2012/2013 and
not only rode Hello Bud to win the Becher Chase in November but has enjoyed a
profitable partnership with his father's The New One who won the Neptune
Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
He has
started the 2013/2014 season extremely well, gaining 55 successes already (up
to 11/11/13).
Nigel Twiston-Davies' entries at The Open
Paddy Power Gold Cup
Astracad (FR)
7 br g Cadoudal (FR) - Astre Eria (FR)
(Garde Royale)
Form:
2550/11318660/1321721/47F-452
Owner:
Raymond Mould Breeder: Charlotte Thoreau
See under trainer profile for Nigel Twiston-Davies' comments.
* Dual winner at Cheltenham, having landed a conditional jockeys'
handicap hurdle at The Showcase in 2010 and the Jenny Mould Handicap Chase over
an extended two miles at The International in December, 2011.
* Excellent effort on his most recent start when runner-up, beaten
a length and a quarter behind Conquisto, in the Grade Two Old Roan Chase at
Aintree on October 26.
* Finished fifth (only beaten five and a half lengths)
behind fellow Paddy Power Gold Cup aspirant Johns Spirit in Equus-Fine Dining
At The Festival Handicap Chase at The Showcase on October 19.
* Has won six times in his career, over distances between two
miles and an extended two and a half miles.
* Latest victory came in two-mile novices' chase at Perth in
April, 2012.
Race Record: Starts: 25; Wins: 6; 2nd: 4; 3rd: 2; Win & Place
prize money: £85,898
Double Ross (IRE)
7 ch g Double Eclipse (IRE) - Kinross
(Nearly A Hand)
Form:
3/35132082/32F14453P-613
Owner:
Options O Syndicate Breeder: T McIlhagga
* Third on most recent start behind Balder Succes in novices'
chase over just short of two and a half miles at Chepstow on October 12.
* Previously won similar contest over extended two and a half
miles at Perth on September 26.
* Has a good record at Cheltenham, having finished third in the
Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at The Festival in 2013 and
won an intermediate handicap hurdle over two miles and five furlongs at The
Open in 2012.
Race Record: Starts: 21; Wins: 3; 2nd: 3; 3rd: 6; Win & Place
prize money: £56,843
Countryside Day, Friday,
November 15 -
Summary of entries
Hunter's Lodge and Major Malarkey
have been entered in the opening Opus Energy Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase
(1.05pm). Hunter's Lodge won a similar race at The Showcase on October 18,
while dour stayer Major Malarkey finished 11th in last year's Grand National.
Paddy Power Gold Cup entry Astracad holds an alternative
entry in Friday's Paddy Power Handicap Chase over two miles along with Have
You Seen Me.
The Cockney Mackem, who finished
second in the Byrne Group Plate at The Festival in 2012, could line up in the
Steel Plate & Sections Novices' Chase (2.05pm), while the consistent Kaylif
Aramis mayrun in the David Johnson Memorial Intermediate Handicap Hurdle
(2.40pm).
Viking Blond could have his first taste
of the Cross Country Course in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, while Little
Pop is entered in the Countryside Raceday Novices' Handicap Hurdle
(3.50pm).
Paddy Power Gold Cup Day,
Saturday, November 16 - Summary of entries
The high-class African
Gold, runner-up in the Grade One Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at The
Festival in March, could make his chasing debut in the Roy Blandford 65 Years
At Cheltenham Novices' Chase (1.15pm).
Nigel Twiston-Davies said: "African Gold will run in his
first novice chase at The Open. He is very exciting and has been schooling
well.
"He is by the same sire as The New One (King's Theatre), but
is a different stamp of the horse and was always built for chasing. I would
hope he can win."
Tour Des Champs, a consistent
performer overfences, is entered for the Grade Three Murphy Group Handicap
Chase over an extended three miles and three furlongs. He was last seen out
when runner-up in the Showcase Trophy at Cheltenham on October 19.
Nigel Twiston-Davies said: "Tour Des Champs will run in the
three and a half mile handicap chase. We are thinking of the Grand National and
Welsh National for him, but he will need to go up in the handicap.
"There is no reason why he cannot win on Saturday. He is a
good staying chaser and would have every chance on his run there last time.
Viking Blond is also a possible
starter in the Listed Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Hurdle (3.00pm), with Pure
Science entered for the Grade Two Neptune Investment Management Novices'
Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs (3.35pm). Pure Science was sixth in
last season's Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper at The Festival and finished
third on his hurdling debut at Cheltenham on October 18.
Nigel Twiston-Davies said: "Pure Science had a good profile
in bumpers and runs in the two mile, five furlong novices' hurdle.
"He ran a good race at Cheltenham last time, but was a bit
novicey and the experience will have brought him on. He spent a bit too much
time in the air, but we have schooled him since and he has been fine.
"He is Flat-bred, being by Galileo, and they are not quite so
natural over obstacles than some of these National Hunt-bred horses."
See above for Paddy Power Gold Cup entries.
StanJames.com Greatwood Hurdle
Day, Sunday, November 17 - Summary of entries
Big Casino could bid to follow up on
his impressive success at Carlisle last month in the openingMallard Pawnbrokers
& Family Jewellers Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.
The talented if enigmatic Mad Moose chased home the mighty
Sprinter Sacre at Cheltenham in January and is one of 12 entries in the Listed
Schloer Chase (2.40pm) over two miles and, in the concluding Listed Fairlawne -
Festival Jockey Club Fine Dining Bumper (3.50pm), Cogry could try and
follow up on his recent impressive victory at Southwell.
Nigel Twiston-Davies said: "Mad Moose is a lovely horse, but
totally crazy. He will be going for the Shloer Chase and then he will follow
Sprinter Sacre around all season collecting prize money, providing he jumps off
at the start!
"You have to try something different with him every time to
get him to start, but he is one of the fastest horses we have - he is rated
over 100 on the Flat."
Simon Claisse, Director of Racing and Clerk of the Course at
Cheltenham, described the going at the course today as Good to Soft, good in
places on the chase and hurdle courses and Good on the cross country course. He
expects the ground to remain similar for the start of racing on Friday, with
mostly dry weather forecast.
The
Paddy Power Gold Cup
Class 1,
Grade 3, £160,000 Total Prize Fund. 2.30pm, Cheltenham, Saturday,
November 16, 2013. For 4yo+, two miles about four and a half furlongs. Entries
closed, October 29, entries revealed October 30 (49 entries), weights revealed
November 6. Penalties: after November 3, a winner of a chase 5lb (no penalty to
increase a horse's weight above 11st 12lb). Five-day confirmation stage
November 11, final 48-hour declaration stage 10.00am, November 14. Form figures
supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of
Sunday, November 10.
Form
Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer
11/4642-
FINIAN'S RAINBOW (IRE) 10-11-12 Michael Buckley Nicky
Henderson
0/11121-
DYNASTE (FR) 7-11-08 John White David Pipe
14133-6 WISHFULL
THINKING 10-11-07 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs
2/24251-
CHAMPION COURT (IRE) 8-11-06 Mark Boothright Martin Keighley
4/F0211-
KATENKO (FR) 7-11-06 A Brooks Venetia Williams
2F1011- RAJDHANI
EXPRESS 6-11-04 Robert Waley-Cohen Nicky Henderson
2131-21 CONQUISTO
8-11-03 P J Martin Steve Gollings
106F-21 HIDDEN
CYCLONE (IRE) 8-11-01 Mrs A F Mee & David Mee John Hanlon IRE
133120-3
TEXAS JACK (IRE) 7-11-00 Robert Watson Noel Meade IRE
21125-U VINO
GRIEGO (FR) 8-11-00 C E Stedman Gary Moore
22P52-U WALKON
(FR) 8-11-00 McNeill Family Alan King
F0311-1 BATTLE
GROUP 8-10-13 Jolly Boys Outing Johnny Farrelly
3-22236 WOOLCOMBE
FOLLY (IRE) 10-10-13 The Hon Mrs Townshend Paul Nicholls
141522-2
TAP NIGHT (USA) 6-10-13 J P McManus Lucinda Russell
1225F-0 KUMBESHWAR
6-10-11 McNeill Family & Nigel Bunter Alan King
0112//01/-
SALUT FLO (FR) 8-10-07 Allan Stennett David Pipe
61P16-0 CARRICKBOY
(IRE) 9-10-07 Trevor Hemmings Venetia Williams
61/0P10-
BALLYNAGOUR (IRE) 7-10-06 Allan Stennett David Pipe
40F-452 ASTRACAD
(FR) 7-10-05 Raymond Mould Nigel
Twiston-Davies
31/214-P0
EASTER METEOR 7-10-03 Mr & Mrs S C Willes Emma Lavelle
3U3P15- NADIYA
DE LA VEGA (FR) 7-10-03 J P McManus Nicky Henderson
26033-1 JOHNS
SPIRIT (IRE) 6-10-02 Christopher W T Johnston Jonjo O'Neill
F2/2425-
COLOUR SQUADRON (IRE) 7-10-02 J P McManus Philip Hobbs
2U2F/-60
GIFT OF DGAB (IRE) 9-10-01 Gigginstown House Stud Tony
Martin IRE
53P-613 DOUBLE
ROSS (IRE) 7-9-10 Options O Syndicate
Nigel
Twiston-Davies
3330-P2 ATTAGLANCE
7-9-08 H Young, G Eifert, R Snyder Malcolm Jefferson
4-P3120 SEAN
AIRGEAD (IRE) 8-9-07 Brendan Flynn Mark McNiff IRE
U/606F0-
TATENEN (FR) 9-9-05 The Stewart Family Richard Rowe
28
five-day confirmations
4
Irish-trained
The StanJames.com Greatwood Hurdle
Class 1,
Grade 3, £100,000 Total Prize Fund. 3.15pm, Cheltenham, Sunday,
November 17, 2013. For 4yo+, two miles about half a furlong. Entries closed,
October 29, entries revealed October 31 (45 entries), weights revealed November
6. Penalties: after November 3, a winner of a hurdle race 5lb (no penalty to
increase a horse's weight above 11st 12lb). Six-day confirmation stage November
11, final 48-hour declaration stage 10.00am, November 15. Form figures supplied
by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Sunday,
November 10.
Form
Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer
1/14PP0-0
GET ME OUT OF HERE (IRE) 9-11-12 J P McManus Jonjo
O'Neill
4/13411-0
COURT MINSTREL (IRE) 6-11-12 Janet Davies Evan Williams
211325-2
TANERKO EMERY (FR) 7-11-10 Walters Plant Hire Ltd Egan Waste Ltd
David Pipe
3121-413
AHYAKNOWYERSELF (IRE) 7-11-10 G Carstairs & R Marker
Dr Richard Newland
21332-1 SAMETEGAL
(FR) 4-11-07 John & Barbara Cotton Paul Nicholls
1165-
ROLLING STAR (FR)
4-11-06 Michael Buckley & The Vestey Family
Nicky Henderson
2514-213
FLAXEN FLARE (IRE) 4-11-04 Mrs Pat Sloan Gordon
Elliott IRE
15/2U00-
CASH AND GO (IRE) 6-11-04 Robin Geffen Nicky Henderson
41131-6 L'UNIQUE
(FR) 4-11-03 Denis Barry Alan King
20-2110 RAWNAQ
(IRE) 6-11-01 Kevin John Smith Matthew Smith IRE
P020U-03
THOMAS EDISON (IRE) 6-11-01 J P McManus Tony Martin IRE
3115-1
PINE CREEK 5-11-00 Bloomfields John Ferguson
312520/ KALANN
(IRE) 6-11-00 K McConnell Sabrina Harty IRE
11U0-
KASHMIR PEAK (IRE) 4-10-12 Win Only SP Only Partnership John Quinn
1010F-3 IFANDBUTWHYNOT
(IRE) 7-10-10 Claire Hollowood & Henry Dean David O'Meara
300/3-30
REDERA (IRE) 7-10-10 Peter William Partnership Tony
Martin IRE
153116- CALCULATED
RISK 4-10-06 Terry Warner John Quinn
212
DELL' ARCA (IRE) 4-10-05 Prof Caroline Tisdall David Pipe
0226420 ENCHANTED FOREST (IRE) 5-10-02 Francis
Campbell Michael
Hourigan IRE
0/3052/U0
ORZARE (IRE) 7-9-13 Bryan Fry Philip Hide
20
six-day confirmations
6
Irish-trained
THE OPEN
2013
Race Schedule - Friday, Saturday
& Sunday, November 15, 16 & 17, 2013
(Old Course)
First Day - Friday, November 15
Time
Race Prize Money Distance
1.05pm Opus Energy Novices'
Handicap Hurdle (0-125) £12,000 2m 110y
1.35pm* Paddy Power Handicap
Chase (0-145) £45,000 2m
2.05pm* Steel Plate And Sections
Novices' Chase £20,000 2m 4f 110y
2.40pm* David Johnson Memorial
Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (0-140) £20,000 2m 5f
3.15pm* Glenfarclas Cross Country
Steeplechase £25,000 3m 7f
3.50pm Countryside Raceday
Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase (0-140) £20,000 3m 110y
Day total £142,000
Second day - Saturday, November
16
Time
Race Prize Money Distance
12.40pm JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial
(Grade Two) £30,000 2m 110y
1.15pm Roy Blandford 65 Years At
Cheltenham Novices' Chase £20,000 3m 110y
1.50pm* Murphy Group Handicap
Chase (Grade Three) £50,000 3m 3f 110y
2.30pm* Paddy Power Gold Cup
(Grade Three) £160,000 2m 4f 110y
3.00pm* Ultima Business Solutions
Handicap Hurdle (Listed) £27,000 3m 1f 110y
3.35pm* Neptune Investment
Management Novices' Hurdle (Grade Two) £30,000 2m 5f
4.05pm U-Kash Mares' Standard
Open National Hunt Flat Race (Listed) £20,000 2m 110y
Day total £337,000
Third day - Sunday, November 17
Time
Race Prize Money Distance
1.00pm Mallard Pawnbrokers &
Family Jewellers Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle £12,000 2m 5f
1.35pm* Skybet Supreme Novices'
Hurdle Trial (Grade Two) £30,000 2m 110y
2.10pm* Racing Post Arkle Trophy
Trial Novices' Chase (Grade Two) £32,000 2m
2.40pm* Shloer Chase
(Listed) £70,000 2m
3.15pm* StanJames.com Greatwood
Hurdle (Handicap) (Grade Three) £100,000 2m 110y
3.50pm Cheltenham Standard Open
National Hunt Flat Race (Listed) £20,000 2m 110y
Day total £264,000
THE OPEN
TOTAL PRIZE MONEY £743,000
* Races
televised live on Channel 4. All races shown live on Racing UK
About
The Open
The
Open is a prestigious and historic three-day meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse,
which signals that the new Jump season is in full swing. There is record prize
money of £743,000 in 2013, with the feature Paddy Power Gold Cup worth
£160,000.
Staged
on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 15, 16 & 17. The Open is the
second highest-profile meeting at the home of Jump racing, following The
Festival in March and a huge event in its own right.
The
Open provides thrilling competition between many of the best Jump horses in
Europe, with crowds of around 70,000 over the three days.
It is
regarded by many as the biggest and most important meeting of the first half of
the Jump season - a weekend of entertainment, sport and fun not to be missed,
including many trade stands in The Open shopping village.
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