Willy Twiston-Davies Q and A: six horses to follow and more

“I started officially in May, and we've had a good start. I think we're on 19 winners already and with a healthy strike rate of about 23%. The horses are running well so it’s all good.”

“I have always loved the training side of things. It was something I was always going to do and something I think Dad always hoped we'd do at some point. The timing just seemed right this year. I was doing more and more, so it was a natural progression.”

“Yes, it was. I was just getting heavier and heavier as the season was going on. I decided I'd take a break over the winter and see what my weight levelled off at. I think within two days I'd put on well over a stone and a half, and I realised it wasn't going to come back down. It was facing reality really. It was time to move on.”

“It was on my mind a lot really. I probably haven’t had the healthiest of families. For instance, I barely met my grandparents. You always worry about hereditary things and pushing my body to the limit was something that you should probably only do for a certain amount of time.

“They died early. I can't really remember Dad's mum at all, and both of their fathers had passed away before I was born. “

“Everything's been faultless so far. We very rarely have a crossword. Most of the time we just have a conversation, and we usually agree on the same thing. It's a family-run business.

“I'd say it couldn't have gone more smoothly. The transition was very, very straightforward. It does help when the horses are running so well, I suppose. We'll see what it's like at the end of the year when we think about having bad results!”

"Obviously, Dad will always be the boss but to be honest with you we never really have that situation. He'll hear my ideas, and I'll hear his and we'll usually find common ground between us. “

“You'd be shocked. We don't actually leave each other's sides much! We'll be on the gallops all day together. We sit in the office from six in the morning doing the race planning up until twelve.

“We'll both always be looking for entries, so we won't ask for each other's approval. We see an entry we think needs to go in, we'll do it.

“We both talk to all the owners as much as we can. Everything we do is very much a 50-50.”

“We have roughly about 85 to 90. We can take more. We could get up to 120 if we wanted to. At the minute, we're very happy with our numbers and what we've got. We've got a lot of young horses. Hopefully we'll beat last year's record, but I wouldn't be shocked if the numbers were slightly down because most of the horses are four and five and we don't want to burn them out.

“A lot of the owners have reinvested, we've got a lot of young pointer-pointers, some of which have won very well already this season and look to have very bright futures.

“We're missing the likes of the Casa No Mento and The Kniphand, horses that have been running in those big handicaps and who all won good prize money every year. It’s hard to take when you lose them.

“But we've still got very good flag bearers with the likes of Master Chewy and Matata. They’re so consistent. You’d have set your clock by them.

“Every year the two of them win a big race, Matata hacked up at Windsor last year and won a big pot. 

“They're both rated 156 and 160 so they'll be the two flag bearers. They're two very good horses who don't really know how to run bad races. They might just be short of the grade ones at Cheltenham, but they're both very capable of winning a lot of prize money in Graded races; especially Master Chewy who we might start in the Old Roan Chase on Sunday. I've got a feeling he might get three miles this year, which could be another string to his bow.”

“It's just a fact of where we are. For example, Phil Cunningham found out I was going onto the licence. I rode a lot of his Flat horses, and he wanted to have a horse in training with us, so that was exciting.

“Then we've had lots of new owners wanting to reinvest. Another had his first horse a year ago and he's gone and invested in two new point-to-pointers. We've just had a lot of influx of new owners who want to start buying nice horses and hopefully Saturday horses.

“If you look through our lot lists, you'd struggle to find a horse on there that shouldn't be winning a race this year.

“Obviously, we're a lot more about quality over quantity this year. “

“It looks that way so far! Un Sens A La Vie looked a bit special at Market Rasen. He did what we expected first time out over hurdles having won his Bumper well, quickening away smartly. I am sure he will improve for the experience and has always looked like a natural jumper.

“He's going to run on Friday in the Grade 2 at Cheltenham. Shabalko d’Herm won very well on Friday by 12 lengths. Spectacular Sunrise ran very well at Perth and should be winning very soon.

“We’ve got a very nice point to pointer called Big Ticket, he should be out soon, possibly at Aintree on Sunday. We also have a very nice horse called Leader Crik, who could run on Friday at Cheltenham, in the two-and-a-half-mile novice hurdle. He looks quite smart.

“We all think the world of Tread Carefully who was seventh at Chepstow. He was just very clueless and green. He could be very nice.

“Race to Base disappointed the first time out, but that was myself and Dad's fault. He needed the run. Super Freddie is unraced but looks quite good.”

Master Chewy: He came in looking the best we've seen him. His work has been probably his best ever. He’s been strengthening up each year.

Potters Charm:  He’s done very little wrong in his career. He'll start off in the West Yorkshire next week.

Un Sens A La Vie: He’s very exciting and one of several of those horses you dream about who will step up to be a graded horse.  

Masked Man: He was very impressive at Chepstow. He looks very good and could stay further. He could develop into a very smart horse.

Tread Carefully: He’s nearly 17 hands, he was second in his Bumper. He just didn't know what he was doing at Chepstow. It wasn't the ideal starting point, it was just more of a fact the ground was safe.

Moon Over America: He has worked really well. He was second in his Bumper. He'll be out soon and should win his Novice Hurdle first time.

“Beauport’s entered in the Sefton and in the Becher. He just pulled too hard in the Grand National, did too much a bit too early. Both of those races will come under consideration.

“If we get soft, heavy ground, he wasn't beaten far in the Grade 1 Long Walk at Ascot, so we'll always have an eye towards those three miles staying hurdles because they can cut up a bit.”

“I think consistency is the most important thing, like last year. If the horses run well all year through and they stay happy and healthy that's the most important thing. As I say, we won't set targets numerically or prize money wise.

“Obviously, we'd love to break the million pound mark. We usually do. That is something we want to do. But it's a very hard season to weigh up, as we've got so many three, four, and five year olds who won't be going to the well too often.

“We usually have 10 to 15 three mile handicap chases that you can spread them round in those hundred grand races every weekend. We don't have them this year.

“That's why it's sad to lose the likes of The Kniphand, and Broadway Boy, because they’d have been Welsh National horses. Broadway Boy was second in the Hennessy. The Kniphand was nearly favourite for the Scottish National and was second in the Sky Bet Yorkshire. All of a sudden, those two are collecting a lot of prize money without even being recognised. “

“A lot of our owners want to go racing and enjoy it. We haven't got an owner who's got more than five or six horses in the yard. They want to enjoy their racing, and they come to enjoy myself and Dad's company. They like Sam to be on the horse and they like the lads. They like to come up to the yard. We haven't got an owner who's got 15 hordes and limitless money who say you can go and buy what you want.

“We're very lucky to have the support of Simon Munir and Isaac Suede. They have been very good to us. We're probably their current only trainer in England and they've sent us some lovely horses like Masked Man. They're very big owners but on the whole a lot of our owners are just with us and want to have a good time.

“Our owners don’t speak to a PA or an assistant. You'll always have me, or Nigel on the phone. I think that's why they quite enjoy it. We're quite hands-on and you'll always have one of us.”

“There's a lot of people brighter than me that are pulling their hair out! It’s concerning. We need prize money to be sustainable.

“If we're going out and buying a hundred-thousand-pound pointer, and it's running for £3k at Worcester, it's very hard to say keep coming and reinvesting when you're not getting any sort of money back.

“A £3,000 race at Worcester does not cover your training fees for a month. So that is not sustainable to the normal owner who has one hobby horse.

“The first thing that goes after a budget when people get taxed more, is the hobby. We're very lucky because we're very stable around numbers. We've always been around this number. But from what I'm hearing, some big trainers and yards will probably be down 10 or 15 horses from what they have been.”

“I'd like to think we can! Potters Charm you have to consider a bargain. He cost £100,000 and he won £110,000 last year. So, you can find a bargain. But on the whole, it's very hard to buy those top end horses and will continue to be like that. The store's prices at Goffs Arkle sale, we didn't even attend. But the average was massive. You'll be paying £50,0000 or £60,000 for an unraced three year old.

“I was only reading an article the other day, Harry Derham's got two horses that were £360,000 and £400,000 each. There is the demand for certain owners. It's just the lower to middle end owners who only have one or two horses. They probably can't afford them anymore. “

“Well, you see it no end with Flat racing. A lot of long-standing trainers are packing in and selling up their properties, more so in Newmarket where the cost of having a horse is a lot.

“It’s going to be a lot harder for young trainers unless they've got financial backing.

“We're so lucky we own the land we work on, but if you're having to rent and then add on feed, hay, straw keeps going up. The price of feed doesn't seem to be dropping. Most horses seem to have ulcers nowadays so a lot of horses on medication can cost a lot of money a month.

“Then the cost of staff is rising the whole time. National Insurance is rising the whole time. The price of everything is going up and the prize money is staying low.”

“Well four eyes are better than two! My communication skills are quite good. I'd like to think I've brought in a lot of new owners. I've been brought up around this yard and these gallops.  I think I know them better than anyone else. I can spot a change in the horse, as can Dad very quickly, if one didn't quite shine on a Friday, I might tell Dad to back it off.

“We've just got a very, very good team. We've got a sensational bunch of staff that are very helpful and they're not afraid to come to us and say if they have a worry about one of their horses, which I think is good. Being approachable is a big thing.”

“A lot of the time, it's about having a horse very fit for the race. That would be the main key. I think it pays to be quite forward around Wetherby in that race.

“Ballyoptic was very forward. Bristol De Mai was just a seriously talented horse, and it was a good stepping stone for him.

“We've just ran some very good horses. The most important thing was having them fit. A lot of the time our horses have gone there and been nearly 100% right.”

“It all depends on whether Master Chewy runs in the Old Roan. He might have an entry in it. But in that same meeting it looks very much like Potters Charm will start off in the West Yorkshire Hurdle. “

“We love the race. It used to be the starting point. Splash Of Ginge used to run the Handicap on the Friday. Dad always used to like staying up. It's a very exciting meeting and it's always warm and welcoming. It's a very prestigious race.”

“We will have all sorts there, a bit early. It all depends how they run this weekend’s Cheltenham meeting.

“We'll target a lot of the handicaps. We'll have one eye on the two and a half mile Grade 2, we could have three or four for that. It depends on which one we think is most suited at the time. We like to split our novice hurdlers up as best as we can.

“It depends on the two weeks before which one's stepping forward the most and looking likely. Yeah. We won't have anything for the Greatwood this year.”

“We've changed it each year. A lot of yards with 160 or 200 horses, can plan their approach for one horse. The thing is for us, a lot of our horses, apart from the graded ones, it's all mapped out for you. For the likes of Potters Charm, you're working back from the Stayers’ Hurdle.

“For the likes of Matata and Master Chewy, it's fairly straightforward. They'll either be in a Champion Chase or a Ryanair. For the handicappers, we try not to get caught up by Cheltenham at all.

“A lot of the time you're going to bump into a very well handicapped horse and, Dad and I, personally feel there is so much good prize money to be won along the way.

“You can win a Betfair Hurdle or a Ladbroke Hurdle, and it's worth double the County. You can win a Welsh National or a Sky Bet, it's worth more than the Kim Muir.

“Of course we want to have winners at Cheltenham all season, but the most important thing is to do the best by our owners and win as much prize money as we can for their horse throughout the year.

“So, if a good opportunity arises on a Saturday where there's going to be six, seven runners in a 100 grand race, we're not going to save our handicap mark for Cheltenham when you might get beaten or something goes wrong.

“You've got to make the most of the opportunities. Dan Skelton said it last year, if good prize money is on offer, you've got to support the races and run the right horse you see fit.”

“Every horse is different, and it depends on what race they have. For example, Un Sens A La Vie ran the other day, but he wouldn't have blown a candle out. He won un-extended so he's fine for Friday. Whereas a horse like Broadway Boy wanted a bit more space between his races because he put so much into it. Every horse is different, some will take it better than others.

“Horses are completely different. Pigeon Island, I think, ran 21 times in his Novice Hurdle season. And he was favourite for the Supreme. And he won a Dovecote. He won some very good races.”

“I read something about possibly moving the Gold Cup to a Saturday and the Festival running from the Wednesday. That’s silly. That doesn't make sense. It will clash with Premier League games, it will clash with all sorts of other sports. Tradition works.

“I don’t think we should go back to three days either. It's all about getting people back attending.

“The most important thing is the cost around Cheltenham, not just Cheltenham Racecourse itself, the hotels for example. Hotels I think people could be a lot more customer friendly.

“Our local pub is adamant that he's keeping all his rooms at the same prices all year round. As soon as you start jerking up prices just because there's a big event deters people. No wonder people end up going up to Benidorm.

“The Gold Cup should be on Friday.

“They moved the Derby to a Saturday and look what’s happened with that. It’s almost a non- event. There used to be hundreds and hundreds of double-decker buses in the middle at Epsom. I don't think there was barely any this year.  It’s very sad.”

“Willie and Patrick Mullins. Probably Patrick the most actually. Every time I ring him and ask about Irish racing, he's so happy to answer the phone and help.

“I'd say he's in a very similar position to me without being on the licence. He speaks to a lot of owners, helps a lot with the planning. Patrick is not an official trainer but he is so helpful, so knowledgeable and so intelligent and a really good bloke with it. A top man. He'd be riding out and I’d be ringing up asking what race I could run a filly in and within five minutes he Whatsapped them to me.

“I'd say without him Closutton would be a very different team. “

“I'm going to be very biased because he's my best friend. I'll go for Tom Bellamy. He's rode some very good winners for us. He's won a Paddy Power. He’s won on Master Chewy. He's won on Broadway Boy. He's very close and basically part of the family.”

“I’d love to have worked in Formula 1. I'd love to have done that. I'm not saying as a driver! But I'd love to have been on the pit wall or been part of the team. I think it's all fascinating.

“I've been to Silverstone but I'd like to do a Grand Prix abroad. Max Verstappen is just a brilliant driver. I love all the chaos!

“Nothing seems to be the same week in week out. There's always gossip. Travelling the world and going to places like Japan and Singapore would be unbelievable.”

“Prize money, but that’s a boring topic! Everyone goes on about it.

“You can go to Cheltenham and Aintree, and they look after you brilliantly. But you could go to Worcester or some other courses and it’s the opposite. People are paying very good money to have horses in training, and I think some of the owners and trainers’ facilities are just not good enough. Owners are spending a lot of money, and it seems they’re getting fobbed off with a £4 meal. That's not good enough. “

“The interesting thing is I don't think there's been someone at the helm that's had a true passion and who’s been in the sport the whole time.

“You need someone who's been in the nitty-gritty and seen the worst of it to understand the true problems and the depth of it all.”

“I've got a really good idea and she's an owner of ours, so she'd probably hate me for saying it.

“It’s Jayne McGivern. She’s an incredible woman. She's so driven and she's succeeded in everything she’s done. She’s a very successful businesswoman who has worked on massive sports infrastructure projects around the world. She's working in Saudi Arabia at the minute. 

She's a very intelligent woman, who doesn't take no for an answer, and would make the sport the best it could possibly be.”

“I think it's unfair to target just Oisin. He's a friend of mine. It happens in everyday racing. If you watch a lot of the Irish jockeys who come over during the Festival, they're wiping people out the whole time and it's not mentioned. I think there's got to be a stronger rule on it.

“I agree the rules need changing. I remember years ago watching a Derby, I wouldn't name the Irish jockey involved, but he ruined an English jockey's race even though he had no chance.

“And you can see that a lot at the Festival. They ride very differently to us.

“We like to give each other space where they want to be as tight and all over you.

“They'll say it's race riding, but at times it can be dangerous.

“They ride very differently to us. If you're half a length down, they don't mind squeezing you up. Over here, you're supposed to give the room. It seems to be a lot more relaxed when they're racing over there.”

“The Prestbury Cup is not Britain v Ireland. It’s Willie really. Gordon Elliott’s a brilliant trainer but he had one winner there last year, and he's got 300 horses!

“The most important thing when you're training is to worry about your own stock and not everyone else's. All we can do is get our horses to each meeting and run them to the best of their abilities. If you worry about everyone else too much, then you're not doing a good enough job on your own. “

“I've just taken up golf, which I'm getting quite obsessed with. And I like cooking a roast on a Sunday. And now I can enjoy it!”