Nigel Twiston-Davies Cheltenham Festival 2018 Stable Tour

Nigel Twiston-Davies has already enjoyed Grade One success this season with Bristol De Mai in the Betfair Chase at Haydock and Splash Of Ginge memorably struck in the Grade Three BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

The Naunton handler is hopeful of adding to his 17 Cheltenham Festival successes next month and gave Racing UK the lowdown on his Festival battalion on Thursday.

The New One - Sun Bets Stayers’ Hurdle (12-1):

I’m not confident he will stay three miles at all and that is why we have held on this long. We will ride him differently, as we will be holding him up.

He will still run even if the ground is soft and that won’t be a concern to me.

He’s won over two and a half miles quite a few times. Has he been staying on at the end? I don’t know.

He’s probably in the best form he has ever been in. He’s only nine and his racing has been incredible this year. His rating is as high as ever.

We had to have a go at the Champion Hurdle trials this season because they are so valuable, and he has run well in all of them.

The New One takes pride of place at Twiston-Davies' yard (Cheltenham)

He just has this huge earning capacity at two miles and he is likely to go back to that distance next season. That is where the money is and if he is earning £200,000 a year why do anything else?

If he can improve for a distance, then he will have a good chance, but he will need to. Sam (Twiston-Davies) has been keen to try three miles for a long time.

He’s the horse of a lifetime and I think he’s one of my best chances of a winner at the Festival.

Wholestone - Sun Bets Stayers’ Hurdle (16-1):

Wholestone has done well all season and he likes Cheltenham. He got slightly outstayed on heavy ground in the Cleeve Hurdle last time out, but the ground won’t be like that the Festival. I’m sure he will get home this time.

He was the first of the English runners home in the Albert Bartlett last year and always runs well around Cheltenham.

He could run a big race at a decent price. His jumping is good and he's a lively outsider.

Ballyoptic - RSA Chase (20-1):

I very much hope Sam (Twiston-Davies) will be available to ride him. It was a very good run last time and he bounced back to form after Kempton. He did everything right.

I think he would have a good chance in the RSA and must be my best chance of a winner at The Festival this year along with The New One.

Good Boy Bobby - Champion Bumper (25-1):

He’s not a definite runner yet as I need to speak to the owners but it’s the idea at the moment. The Newbury run was good, and he’s got good form. The occasion won’t get to him as he’s a very relaxed horse. I’m very hopeful he is another Ballyandy.

Count Meribel - Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (50-1) & Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (66-1):

I will speak to the owner’s racing manager Jim Old, but I think he will head to Cheltenham and take on Samcro in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.

It was two miles and three furlongs at Ascot and they went too slow and sprinted at the end, so it caught him out a bit.

He’s also in the Albert Bartlett, but I think we will go for the Ballymore.

Angels Antics - OLBG Mares’ Hurdle (66-1):

I don’t think she will take on Apple’s Jade in the Mares’ Hurdle, but if there are only a few runners, which is a possibility, then that might make us change our minds. She would also prefer two miles and four furlongs.

She will have an entry in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle as well, which is her more likely target.

Bigbadjohn - Ultima Handicap Chase (25-1) & the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase (25-1):

I don’t think we turned his form around when he won last time out at Kempton so I’m not going to blow my own trumpet.

I think the small field helped him and he’d come down in the handicap. He’s a quality horse. However, he’s not a definite runner.

Ballymalin - National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Chase (40-1):

The owners like to have a runner at the Festival, so we will look at running. He’s only rated 138 so he will be well outclassed. Zak Baker could ride him or Jordan Nailor.

He was running well in the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh, until he fell two out. He’s by presenting so better ground will suit him. He’s a nice little horse.

Jameson - Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase:

Jameson has done nothing wrong all season and we’ve been very pleased with him.

Dropping back to two miles he found things happening a bit too quick for him last time. He will go for the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase.

Ballyhill - Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase (16-1) & Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate (40-1):

He’s a winner around Cheltenham over two and a half miles already this season. He’s the sort of horse that could just pop up.

The handicapper hasn’t murdered him and I’m very happy with his rating. If we don’t run in the Close Brothers, then we will look at the Plate.

Turning Gold - Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (33-1):

He won well last time out and I do think he will need heavy ground, which I don’t think he will get at the Festival.

The Fred Winter is usually an open race. He’s not a certain runner, but if there’s plenty of rain about we may run.

Callett Mad - Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (25-1) & Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (16-1):

He holds two entries, but I would have thought he will run in the Albert Bartlett.

It was quite extraordinary how he bounced back to form at Musselburgh last time. It was heavy ground when he tried to make all at Cheltenham and he was disappointing.

He will be held up again like he was at Musselburgh as it was a transformation. We will look at both races though.

Arthur’s Gift - Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (33-1):

I’m not sure if he will get in off a rating of 135, but hopefully he will. He’s done nothing wrong all season and I’d like to run in the Pertemps.

Robinshill - Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (33-1):

Robinshill would have a good chance. He’s only been winning around Ludlow though. We tried two and a half miles last time and he didn’t get home.

Others:

Tintern Theatre may run in the Kim Muir depending how he runs at Kempton on Saturday, and Double Ross and Benbens. Foxtail Hill will run in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate unless the ground is heavy.