Wednesday, November 11, 2009

BALLYFITZ A CONFIDENT TWISTON-DAVIES CHOICE AT CHELTENHAM

At a stable visit organised by Cheltenham Racecourse and sponsor Paddy Power, Twiston-Davies, who has already trained two winners of the Paddy Power Gold Cup, put his £500 charity bet provided by Paddy Power on Ballyfitz at 16/1 to win. The horse is now a 12/1 chance.

Twiston-Davies is the most successful current trainer at The Open, Cheltenham’s three-day meeting on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (November 13 to 15), with 20 victories since 1990, including two Paddy Power Gold Cup wins - Tipping Tim (1992) and Imperial Commander (2008).

Twiston-Davies said today: “Ballyfitz has got the same sort of profile as my Paddy Power Gold Cup winner last year - Imperial Commander.

“He is last season’s novice chaser and won two races at Cheltenham and then ran badly in his final run.

“He has come back really well preparing for this season and it is the sort of race where the handicapper has not really got hold of them yet.

“He is up and coming - I know he is not very young - as far as fences go and he is the one that has not been totally exposed.

“There is a lot of rain forecast - an inch before Saturday - and that would help his cause. He always travels very well in his races and there is no reason to think that he has to have three miles - the Pertemps Final and both his novice chase victories were over three - but he is never short of pace.

“We are very keen on his chances - he is a real battler and jumps well. And, obviously, if you look at his record, he likes Cheltenham - he has done more winning there than anywhere else.

“I am very excited and don’t think we have seen the best of Ballyfitz yet. Paddy Brennan will ride.”

Ballyfitz is a lightly-raced nine-year-old and has won seven of his 15 races to date, while the Gloucestershire-based handler’s other runner in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, which takes place over two miles, four and half furlongs, is the 11-year-old Knowhere who finished third in the race two years ago.

Twiston-Davies added: “Knowhere is in the grip of the handicapper but again he loves Cheltenham and always runs well there.

“He was third in the race two years ago. He has got a chance and will have 5lb off because of Tom Molloy’s claim.”


The latest Paddy Power betting on the Paddy Power Gold Cup is: Chapoturgeon 6/1, Poquelin 7/1, Tarotino 7/1, Tranquil Sea 7/1, Tatenen 8/1, My Petra 9/1, Northern Alliance 10/1, Ballyfitz 12/1, Tartak 14/1, From Dawn To Dusk 16/1, Watch My Back 16/1, Bible Lord 16/1, According To Pete 16/1, Akilak 20/1, I'm So Lucky 20/1, Hold Em 25/1, Three Mirrors 25/1, Jaamid 25/1, Our Vic 28/1, Il Duce 28/1, Pop 28/1, Gaelic Flight 28/1, Knowhere 33/1, Leslingtaylor 33/1, Commemoration Day 40/1, Island Life 40/1.
A quarter the odds 1, 2, 3 & 4.

Twiston-Davies likes having plenty of runners at the big meetings and The Open is no exception.

He said: “We do tilt at windmills. We have lots of cheap horses and have been very lucky with them. We have got where we are by taking other people on - it is more fun that way.

“We do not have big budgets to buy horses but fortune favours the brave. Our philosophy is to go to the big meetings.”

He hopes to have a team of up to 20 to run over the three days of The Open.

The trainer added: “If all those win, there won’t be enough booze left in the pub!”


CHELTENHAM GOING

Old course, Chase and Hurdle - GOOD, GOOD TO SOFT in places.

Cross Country - GOOD, GOOD TO FIRM in places.

The forecast is for unsettled weather, with between six and eight millimetres of rain due today and tomorrow.

It should then be dry on Friday until after racing begins, with up to 21 millimetres of rain into Saturday early on. It is forecast to be dry on Saturday and Sunday except for the occasional shower.

PLEASE NOTE - Hugh Routledge has taken excellent photos which are available through www.backpageimages.com and have been distributed to the British national newspapers.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON NIGEL TWISTON-DAVIES, ASSISTANT TRAINER CARL LLEWELLYN AND THE HORSES DUE TO RUN AT THE OPEN
NIGEL TWISTON-DAVIES

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 1,200 successes.

Born on May 16, 1957, as an amateur jockey Twiston-Davies rode 17 winners 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, Naunton, Gloucestershire, although Scudamore is no longer involved in the venture, having teamed up with Denis Caro in 2002 and then his father Michael.

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 gained 10 successes at the Cheltenham Festival, including a double with Imperial Commander in the Ryanair Chase and Tricky Trickster in the National Hunt Chase in 2009.

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 Little Bud (2009), and the Welsh Grand National with Earth Summit (1997) and Bindaree (2003). His best season numerically was the 2007/08 campaign when the stable enjoyed 87 victories.

He has trained 31 winners so far in the 2009/10 season after Rory Boy’s success at Warwick today.

NIGEL TWISTON-DAVIES’ 10 WINNERS AT THE FESTIVAL

William Hill Handicap Chase: 1992 Tipping Tim
Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle: 1993 Gaelstrom, 2004 Fundamentalist
RSA Chase: 1993 Young Hustler
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle: 1994 Arctic Kinsman
JCB Triumph Hurdle: 1998 Upgrade
Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle: 2000 Rubhahunish, 2008 Ballyfitz
Ryanair Chase: 2009 Imperial Commander
National Hunt Chase: 2009 Tricky Trickster





CARL LLEWELLYN

In June, 2009, it was announced that Carl Llewellyn, who was stable jockey for 19 years, would return to Grange Farm in partnership with Nigel Twiston Davies.

Born on July 29, 1965, in Pembrokeshire, Wales, Carl Llewellyn began as an amateur with Stan Mellor and Jim Old. He rode his first winner on Starjestic at Wolverhampton on March 14, 1986 and celebrated his first big-race victory when landing the Mildmay Of Flete Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at the 1988 Cheltenham Festival on Smart Tar.

The year 1992 was one of great achievement when he partnered Tipping Tim to win the William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase at The Festival before going on to triumph in the Grand National on Party Politics, on whom he deputised for the injured Andy Adams. Later that year, he gained another high-profile victory on board Tipping Tim when taking what is now the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

Llewellyn had more than his fair share of injuries, and even returned from a jockeys’ challenge match in Russia with bruised ribs, lungs and kidneys, and a stiff neck, but kept bouncing back.

An injury to Tom Jenks meant he picked up the spare, winning ride on Earth Summit in the 1998 Grand National. Llewellyn turned down the chance to ride winner Bindaree in 2002 and instead was unseated from Beau.

After combining his riding career with assisting trainer Mark Pitman, he took over the reins at Weathercock House in Lambourn in 2006 and training and rode. He enjoyed almost instant success, training and riding Run For Paddy to victory in the 2006 Scottish Grand National.

He also had significant success with the likes of Roll Along, runner-up in the 2008 RSA Chase, and Hennessy, who landed the 2009 Bet365 Gold Cup. He left Weathercock House in June, 2009.

CARL LLEWELLYN’S SEVEN WINNERS AS A JOCKEY AT THE FESTIVAL

Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle: 1993 Gaelstrom, 2004 Fundamentalist
William Hill Handicap Chase: 1992 Tipping Tim
Festival Plate Handicap Chase: 1988 Smart Tar
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle: 1994 Arctic Kinsman
JCB Triumph Hurdle: 1998 Upgrade
Pertemps Final Handicap Chase: 2000 Rubhahunish

NIGEL TWISTON-DAVIES - ENTRIES AT THE OPEN
Friday, November 13
1:15pm Irish Times Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase - Razor Royale
1.50pm Grade Two Sharp Novices’ Hurdle - Cootehill
2.25pm paddypower.com Handicap Chase - Tramantano, Nikola
3.00pm Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase - Rimsky
3.35pm RBC Wealth Management Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle - Quelqu'Un Comme Toi
4.05pm Steel Plate And Sections Novices' Chase - Little Josh

Saturday, November 14
1.20pm Ultima Frontrunner In It Solutions Novices' Chase - Diablo, Pettifour
1.55pm Grade Three Servo Trophy Handicap Chase - Baron Windrush, Hello Bud
2.35pm Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase - Knowhere, Ballyfitz
3.10pm Listed Jardine Lloyd Thompson Handicap Hurdle - Made In Japan
3.45pm Ultima Business Solutions Novices' Handicap Hurdle - Reland

Sunday, November 15
1.10pm Grade Two Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase - Pigeon Island
2.20pm Grade Three Greatwood Handicap Hurdle - Khyber Kim
2.55pm Paddy Power Intermediate Handicap Hurdle - Distiller
3.30pm Grade Two Cleanevent Novices' Hurdle - Bobby Ewing
4.00pm Listed Griffins Richard Davis Awards Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race - Midnight Tuesday


RAZOR ROYALE
7 b g Oscar (IRE) - Maypole Gayle (Strong Gale)
Jump Form: 12144476/F313-9 Owner: Colin Cornes
Breeder: Jeremiah Daly
Razor Royale won a point-to-point at Dundrum in March, 2007, before joining the Grange Hill Farm team. He made a winning start for his new connections in a Perth bumper on September 27, 2007, and was runner-up in that sphere at Cheltenham the following month. A debut triumph over hurdles soon followed in a novice contest at The Open in November. A series of solid efforts in high-class novice company followed that season, including a decent fourth to Aigle D’Or in the Grade Two Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in January, 2008. Razor Royale made his 2008/2009 seasonal bow in the Tiger Developments Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham that October, but the gelding fell when challenging two out. A third-place finish at the same course followed at The Open in November, before a first chase victory was notched at Bangor on February 25, 2009. A fair third to Chief Dan George at Kelso in March rounded off that campaign and he returned to action this season in the Listed Blue Square Handicap Chase at Market Rasen on September 26. Razor Royale was a well-beaten ninth in the extended two and three quarter mile chase behind Valley Ride.

Race Record: Starts: 13 Wins: 3; 2nd: 1; 3rd: 2; Win & Place Prize Money: £30,004


COOTEHILL (IRE)
5 b g Alflora (IRE) - Dancing Dove (IRE) (Denel (FR))
Jump Form: 45339425-121101 Owner: Felicity Griffin
Breeder: B & I McClelland
Cootehill had two starts in Irish point-to-points in early 2008, winning at the second attempt at Maralin on heavy going. The gelding failed to build on that promise in his first five starts for the Twiston-Davies yard but showed more in early 2009, finishing fourth under a heavy burden in a Doncaster novices’ handicap hurdle and then going down by a length when runner-up at Ludlow on March 19. A further defeat at the same course followed next time but he finally landed a first victory under Rules at Southwell on June 9, defeating Duty Free by six lengths over two miles and a furlong. A runner-up finish at Ffos Las later that month was followed by a quick-fire brace. On July 12, Cootehill comfortably annexed a Stratford novice hurdle and six days later the five-year-old saw off a competitive field to win the Listed Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen. He returned to that course on September 26, after a break, but was below his best in 11th behind Treaty Flyer. Cootehill bounced back to score by three lengths from Press The Button in a Listed novice hurdle at Kempton in October 18.

Race Record: Starts: 14 Wins: 4; 2nd: 2; 3rd: 2; Win & Place Prize Money: £45,555
TRAMANTANO
10 b g Muhtarram (USA) - Hatta Breeze (Night Shift (USA))
Jump Form: 14440/521/209/1F2PP62873/2125434-1 Owner: Raymond Mould
Breeder: Grange Stud (UK)
A debut winner on the Flat over 10 furlongs, Tramantano joined the stable of Nigel Twiston-Davies after making six starts for Henry Candy. He also made a winning debut over hurdles at Newbury in November, 2002 and ran some good races in defeat that season, including when coming 12th in the Grade One Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. After recording a neck verdict over Sporazene in the Listed Gerry Feilden Handicap Hurdle at Newbury in November, 2003, a leg problem forced Tramantano to miss the rest of the season and the whole of the 2004/05 campaign. He returned to action with an excellent second to Lingo in the Grade Three Greatwood Hurdle at The Open in November, 2005, but failed to build on that promise in two subsequent starts. Further problems forced Tramantano back on the sidelines and he spent another season out of action before scoring on his chasing debut at Cheltenham Showcase meeting in October, 2007. He did not add to that success in nine subsequent starts during the 2007/08 season, but ran well when finishing mid-field in Grade Three handicap chases at Cheltenham and Aintree. Last season, Tramantano triumphed in a two-mile handicap chase at Aintree in October and followed up with by taking the runner-up spot behind Pablo Du Charmil in the paddypower.com Handicap Chase at The Open. He also ran well in Grade Three handicap chases at The Festival and at Aintree’s Grand National meeting, and scored on his first start of this season, taking a two-mile handicap chase at Aintree for a second successive year on October 25.
Race Record: Starts: 35; 1st: 6; 2nd: 8; 3rd: 2; Win & Place Prize Money: £112,149


NIKOLA (FR)
8 b g Roi De Rome (USA) - Envie De Chalamont (FR) (Pamponi (FR))
Jump Form: 2410/00718800/2222232142/1F55338224-4 Owner: Graham & Alison Jelley
Breeder: Daniel Laupretre
Nikola began his career in France winning on the Flat at Paray-le-Monial in September 2004, and Cluny 12 months later. He showed promise on his British debut for Twiston-Davies, taking second behind Straw Bear in a Leicester Novices’ Hurdle in January, 2006. A first UK victory came at Newcastle the following month in a two-mile novices’ hurdle on heavy going, but he was out of his depth against Noland in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at The Festival on his next start. He tasted further success in a two-mile handicap hurdle at Leicester in December, 2006 and switched to fences in October, 2007. Nikola was placed seven times, including six runner-up efforts, before breaking his duck over the larger obstacles on March 7, 2008, by a neck in a two and a half-mile beginners’ chase, again at Leicester. His latest success came by a short-head over an extended two and three quarter miles at Uttoxeter in May, 2008. Last season, he was third to Breedsbreeze at Bangor in October and, then in January, finished runner-up to Lorient Express over two miles at Sandown. At Kelso on March 20, he went down by a head to Tom’s Toybox before coming fourth in a Grade Two at Cheltenham in April. He returned to action at Ascot on October 31 and was a staying-on fourth to Master Medic in the Listed Byrne Group Handicap Chase over two miles, one furlong.

Race Record: Starts: 43 Wins: 6; 2nd: 11; 3rd: 7; Win & Place Prize Money: £62,182


RIMSKY (IRE)
8 gr g Silver Patriarch (IRE) - Mistinguett (IRE) (Doyoun)
Jump Form: 218/1106426625/25163047/82383456- Owner: Mrs S A Goodman
Breeder: J Duggan
After coming second on his debut in a Newbury bumper in March, 2005, Rimsky recorded a debut victory later the same month in a similar contest at Bangor. He made an impressive start over hurdles the following season, taking a novice contest at Chepstow in October, 2005, before returning to the same course three weeks later to triumph in the Grade Two Persian War Novices’ Hurdle. Despite failing to win on eight subsequent appearances that season, Rimsky ran some good races in defeat, including when runner-up in a Grade Two Novices’ Hurdle at Wetherby and sixth in the Grade One Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle at The Festival. After missing the whole of the 2006/07 season, Rimsky was sent over fences for the following campaign and recorded his only victory over the larger obstacles in beginners’ chase at Towcester in December, 2007. Rimsky’s two best performances since that victory have both come in the marathon Eider Chase at Newcastle, in which he was third to Comply Or Die in 2008 and filled the same spot behind Merigo in this year’s race. He is set to have his first start in a cross-country race at The Open this weekend.
Race Record: Starts: 29; 1st: 4; 2nd: 5; 3rd: 3; Win & Place Prize Money: £57,465


QUELQU’UN COMME TOI (FR)5 b g Evening World (FR) - Urta (FR) (Le Pontet (FR))
Jump Form: 453-2 Owner: Robroy Racing
Breeder: Dr Vet Roger Yves Simon
Quelqu'Un Comme Toi is set to make his second start for Nigel Twiston-Davies, having previously been trained by his new assistant Carl Llewellyn in Lambourn. Despite still being a maiden after four starts, Quelqu'Un Comme Toi has shown promise on all four of his racecourse appearances, including when fourth on his debut in a Huntington bumper in December, 2008. After taking fifth on his second start in another bumper at Warwick in January, Quelqu'Un Comme was third on his hurdling debut in a novice contest at Fontwell in March. He joined the Twiston-Davies stable during the summer and made an encouraging debut for his new handler, when finding only Emperor Concerto two and three quarter lengths too strong in a maiden hurdle at Warwick on October 21.
Race Record: Starts: 4; 1st: -; 2nd: 1; 3rd: 1; Win & Place Prize Money: £1,347


LITTLE JOSH (IRE) 7 ch g Pasternak - Miss Top (IRE) (Tremblant)
Jump Form: 112141-2 Owner: Tony Bloom
Breeder: Michael Kearns
Having shown promise wwhen making the frame in two starts in Irish point-to-points in 2006, Little Josh made his debut for Nigel Twiston-Davies in September, 2008, when he posted an impressive six-length victory in a Stratford bumper. He followed up with another comfortable success in a similar Hexham contest that October. He finished second on his first start over hurdles later the same month, finding Pride Of Dulcote 24 lengths too strong in a three-mile Chepstow maiden hurdle. Little Josh made no mistake on his next start as he sauntered to a 35-length verdict in a two and a half mile novice hurdle at Lingfield at the end of November. A series of errors cost Little Josh as he could only finish fourth on his next appearance in a novice hurdle at Haydock in December but he ended his season with another comfortable success, taking a Chepstow novice hurdle by six lengths. Sent chasing this season, Little Josh made a pleasing debut over the larger obstacles when going down by four lengths to Door Boy in a two and a half mile novice chase at Aintree on October 25.
Race Record: Starts: 7; 1st: 4; 2nd: 2; 3rd: 0; Win & Place Prize Money: £14,298


DIABLO (IRE)
7 br g Even Top (IRE) - Warren Wonder (IRE) (Miner´s Lamp)
Jump Form: 1/13117P0PP-22 Owner: Raymond Mould
Breeder: Michael Fitzpatrick
From the family of leading staying chaser Ollie Magern, Diablo made four starts between the flags for Graham McKeever in Ireland, winning a maiden at Farmaclaffley in February, 2008. He joined the stable of Nigel Twiston-Davies soon afterwards and made an impressive winning debut for his new connections when taking a Perth bumper by seven lengths that April. He followed up with another running-on victory at Uttoxeter the following month. He was third on his hurdling debut in a Stratford maiden hurdle in September. He notched a first success over the smaller obstacles just 10 days later at Perth and stayed on well to take a novice hurdle at Cheltenham’s Showcase meeting in October. Diablo could was second when stepping up in class to contest the Grade Two Persian War Novices’ Hurdle at Chepstow the following week. He failed to shine in four subsequent starts in the 2008/09 campaign, including when being pulled up in the Grade One Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He has been second in novice chases on both his starts this season, chasing home Mhilu at Perth on September 24 and finding Just Amazing 11 lengths too strong in the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Novices' Chase at Cheltenham’s Showcase meeting on October 17.
Race Record: Starts: 12; 1st: 4; 2nd: 2; 3rd: 1; Win & Place Prize Money: £18,552







PETTIFOUR (IRE)
7 b g Supreme Leader - Queen Of Natives (IRE) (Be My Native (USA))
Jump Form: 42111/135804-22 Owner: J B Pettifer
Breeder: William J Noonan
After making the frame in bumpers at Uttoxeter and Warwick at the end of 2007, Pettifour made a successful debut over hurdles when beating Crocodiles Rock by a length in a novice hurdle at Hereford in January, 2008. He went on to land another novice contest at Newbury the following month before ended a superb first season with a neck victory over Gone To Lunch in the Grade One Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree’s Grand National meeting. Pettifour made a winning start to the 2008/09 season, getting the better of Mobaasher in the Grade Two West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby at the start of November. He ran another excellent race later the same month to be third in the Grade Two Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury before coming fifth in the Grade One Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in December. In two subsequent appearances at Cheltenham, Pettifour failed to run his race in the Grade Two Byrne Group Cleeve Hurdle on Festival Trials Day and could was 11th in the Grade One Ladbrokes World Hurdle at The Festival. He bounced back to form when chasing home Fiveforthree in the Grade One Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival at the end of April, and filled the runner-up spot when making a second successive appearance in the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby on his October 31 seasonal debut, finding Fair Along 18 lengths too strong.
Race Record: Starts: 13; 1st: 4; 2nd: 3; 3rd: 1; Win & Place Prize Money: £147,120


BARON WINDRUSH
11 b g Alderbrook - Dame Scarlet (Blakeney)
Jump Form: 0/6113/1UU16216/P4PUP/PP5P11/7PP/ Owner: The Double Octagon Partnership
Breeder: Mrs S A Chapple
Baron Windrush made an inauspicious start to his career when finishing down the field in a Warwick bumper in November, 2002. He returned to action 14 months later and recorded a pair of novice hurdle victories at Market Rasen and Wetherby in March, 2004. Baron Windrush enjoyed a productive first season over fences during the 2004/05 campaign, winning a beginners’ chase at Stratford before going on to glory in a novice contest at Aintree and beating far more experienced rivals in the Grade Three Classic Chase at Warwick in January, 2005. A talented chaser, Baron Windrush has run with great credit in some of the top staying chases, including when coming a close fourth in the Eider Chase at Newcastle in February, 2006, and when posting a comprehensive 12-length victory in the Listed Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter in March, 2007. He was pulled up on his latest start in the Grade Three Welsh National at Chepstow in December, 2007.
Race Record: Starts: 27; Wins: 7; 2nd: 1; 3rd: 1; Win & Place Prize Money: £175,734


HELLO BUD (IRE)
11 b g Jurado (USA) - Orchestral Sport (IRE) (Orchestra)
Jump Form: 0609/P004/4073111P/116P11-7 Owner: Seamus Murphy
Breeder: Peter Casey
Hello Bud made 10 appearances under Rules and five in point-to-points for his first handler and breeder Peter Casey in Ireland, with the highlight being a hat-trick of point-to-point victories between March and May, 2006. He joined the stable of David Wintle in the summer of 2007, for whom he enjoyed a productive second-half of the season, winning a novice handicap chase over three miles at Huntingdon in January, 2008, and following up with handicap chases over marathon distances at Hereford and Hexham. Hello Bud was transferred to Nigel Twiston-Davies after being pulled up on his final start of the 2007/08 season in the Highland National at Perth. He made an impressive start for his new handler, following up a front-running success in a Kelso handicap chase in November with a game victory in the Southern National at Fontwell just eight days later. After fading to come home sixth in the London National at Sandown in December, Hello Bud was pulled up in a handicap chase at Doncaster in January, 2009. He bounced back to form with an all-the-way success in Wincanton’s Somerset National in April and followed with the biggest victory of his career nine days later, again making the running to beat Gone To Lunch by half a length in the Grade Three Scottish Grand Nationa at Ayrl. Hello Bud made his seasonal return in a three mile Listed handicap chase at Ascot on October 31, when he cut out the early running before fading to come home seventh behind The Last Derby. He could now bid to emulate the Twiston Davies-trained Earth Summit, who was the last horse to triumph in both the Scottish National and Grand National.
Race Record: Starts: 23; 1st: 7; 2nd: -; 3rd: 1; Win & Place Prize Money: £159,535



KNOWHERE (IRE)
11 b g Lord Americo - Andarta (Ballymore)
Jump Form: 11/P/11F22380U/135P16UP/180P-3 Owner: Raymond Mould
Breeder: John Jobson
Knowhere recorded a facile six-length victory in a point-to-point maiden at Farmaclaffley in February, 2004, prior to joining the yard of Nigel Twiston-Davies for the following season. He landed his first two starts for his new connections that October, sauntering home in a novice hurdle at Hexham and following up in the Grade Two Persian War Novices' Hurdle at Chepstow, edging out Ladalko by a neck, before injury kept him off the track for 15 months. He was pulled up on his only appearance of the 2005/06 season, in the Grade Two Dipper Novices' Chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, but started the 2006/07 term with a pair easy wins in novice chases at Perth and Bangor. Lining up in the 2006 Paddy Power Gold Cup on only his fourth appearance over fences under rules, Knowhere was leading the field prior to falling at the eighth. He chased home Cerium in a Grade Two handicap chase at Ascot seven days later, and returned to Cheltenham to take the runner-up spot behind Exotic Dancer in the Grade Three Boylesports.com Gold Cup. After taking third in the Grade One Feltham Novices' Chase at Kempton, Knowhere failed to build on a promising start to the campaign and ended his season when unseating Tom Doyle in the Grand National. He returned to form with some excellent displays in the 2007/08 season, taking a handicap chase at The Showcase, coming third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at The Open, and gaining the biggest success of his career to date when landing the Grade Two Letheby & Christopher Chase on Festival Trials Day. Knowhere was sixth in the Grade One totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, but he again failed to complete in the Grand National and was pulled up in the Grade Three bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown. After posting an length-verdict over Exotic Dancer in the Grade Two Old Roan Chase at Aintree, Knowhere subsequently came eighth the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury and 10th to Kauto Star in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup. He began the current campaign at Aintree once more, keeping on to take third behind Monet’s Garden in the Old Roan Chase on October 24.
Race Record: Starts: 25; 1st: 7; 2nd: 2; 3rd: 3; Win & Place Prize Money: £248,305


BALLYFITZ
9 b g Overbury (IRE) - Running For Gold (Rymer)
Form: 11/U/1271152/1122P- Owner: F J Mills & W Mills
Breeder: Helshaw Grange Farms Ltd
Ballyfitz is set to make a second successive appearance at The Open, having posted an impressive 11-length victory over Big Fella Thanks in an extended three-mile novice chase at Cheltenham last year. He was purchased by Nigel Twiston-Davies for 25,000 guineas at the 2004 Doncaster Spring National Hunt Sales after showing promise in two appearances between the flags in Ireland. He made a perfect start for new connections, winning novice hurdles on both his appearances of the 2005/06 campaign but produced an error-strewn display on his only start of the 2006/07 season when unseating Tony Evans in an extended three-mile novice chase at Cheltenham. Ballyfitz Returned to the smaller obstacles for the 2007/08 term and enjoyed an excellent season, winning handicap hurdles at Chepstow and Haydock before recording a three-length success over Miko De Beauchene in the Listed Pertemps Final at the 2008 Cheltenham Festival. He ended that season with two further good efforts over hurdles, coming fifth a Grade Two contest at Aintree’s Grand National meeting and going down by a length and a quarter to Mobaasher at Cheltenham’s April Meeting. He returned to Prestbury Park for his first start of the 2008/09 season, gaining a first victory with a convincing success in the extended three-mile Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Novices' Chase at The Showcase, and continued his good start to the season by following up over the same course and distance at The Open. He made a third consecutive appearance at Cheltenham the following month, coming home a seven-length runner-up to What A Friend in the Cheltenham Business Club Novices' Chase at The Boylesports International. After being a distant second behind Carruthers in the Grade Two Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot in February, 2009, Ballyfitz ended last season at The Festival in the Grade One RSA Chase, in which he struggled before being pulled up.
Race Record: Starts: 15; 1st: 7; 2nd: 4; 3rd: - Win & Place Prize Money: £123,088








RELAND (FR)
4 b g Shaanmer (IRE) - Falkland III (FR) (Video Rock (FR))
Form: 4-24 Owner: Raymond Mould
Breeder: Thierry Cypres
Reland made a promising debut in an extended two-mile bumper at Haydock on April 11, coming fourth behind the more experience Peveril. He made his seasonal return over hurdles in an extended two mile novice contest at Perth on September 24, when he found only Mesbaah three and a quarter lengths too strong. On his latest start, Reland faded to be fourth in the extended two mile Champagne Lanson Maiden Hurdle at Cheltenham’s Showcase meeting on October 16.
Race Record: Starts: 3; 1st: -; 2nd: 1; 3rd: -; Win & Place Prize Money: £1,284


MADE IN JAPAN (JPN)
9 b g Barathea (IRE) - Darrery (Darshaan)
Jump Form: 33112/2134846/325300/48805P/51- Owner: Terry Evans
Breeder: Darley Stud Management
Formerly trained on the Flat by Mikael Magnusson, Made In Japan scored on his debut in December, 2002, but failed to add to his tally in nine subsequent starts on the level. Bought by Philip Hobbs on behalf of Terry Evans in October, 2003, Made In Japan gained a first hurdle victory when taking a juvenile contest at Sandown in February, 2004, and followed up with the biggest success of his career the following month when beating Chief Yeoman by two lengths in the Grade One JCB Triumph Hurdle at The Festival. He proved that result was no fluke when coming second in both the Grade Two 4-Y-0 Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree and the Grade One Champion 4-Y-0 Hurdle at Punchestown. Made In Japan was sent chasing for the 2004/05 campaign and recorded a facile success on his debut over the larger fences at Kempton in November, 2004, and he contested some of the top novice chases of the season, including when coming eighth in the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase at the 2005 Festival. After failing to live up to his early promise over fences, Made In Japan switched stables to join Aaron Bateman for the 2006/07 season but had a frustrating campaign despite being switched back to hurdles. After nearly two years off the track, Made In Japan made his debut for Nigel Twiston-Davies, coming fifth in a Uttoxeter handicap hurdle in March, 2009. He built on that promising run to take a three-mile handicap hurdle at Cheltenham’s April meeting on April 16, when he defeated Pertemps Final victor and subsequent stable companion Kayf Aramis by a length and a half.
Jump Race Record: Starts: 26; 1st: 4; 2nd: 3; 3rd: 5; Win & Place Prize Money: £148,198


PIGEON ISLAND
6 gr g Daylami (IRE) - Morina (USA) (Lyphard (USA))
Jump Form: 547423/212332211135135510F15/688-2F Owner: Raymond Mould
Breeder: Sir Eric ParkerPigeon Island failed to win in nine Flat starts for trainer Henry Candy, although he did make the frame on three occasions, including when third to subsequent St Leger winner Sixties Icon in a Windsor maiden in May, 2006. He made his debut for Nigel Twiston-Davies when coming fifth in a Grade Two juvenile novices’ hurdle at Cheltenham in November, 2006, but had to wait until the following June to register a first success in a Worcester maiden hurdle. He enjoyed a productive summer of 2007, rattling up a hat-trick of wins and kept on to take fifth behind Sizing Europe in the Grade Three Greatwood Hurdle at The Open. He returned to Cheltenham the following month to take third in the Grade Two Relkeel Hurdle at the Boylesports International, before going on to Grade Two glory in the Dovecote Novice Hurdle at Kempton in February, 2008. After disappointing efforts at The Festival and Aintree, Pigeon Island recorded another novice hurdle success at Cheltenham’s April meeting. A punctuated 2008/09 season ended after Pigeon Island took eighth on his second appearance in the Greatwood Hurdle at The Open. Pigeon Island failed to land the odds when coming a short-head second on his chasing debut at Perth on September 23, but looked set to improve on that performance on his latest start at Cheltenham in the WBX.COM Novices' Chase at The Showcase on October 16, when he was going well prior to falling at the penultimate fence.
Jump Race Record: Starts: 32; 1st: 7; 2nd: 6; 3rd: 5; Win & Place Prize Money: £120,630







KHYBER KIM
7 b g Mujahid (USA) - Jungle Rose (Shirley Heights)
Jump Form: 1404/20500-5 Owner: Caroline Mould
Breeder: Mr & Mrs Peter Player
Originally trained by Henry Candy, Khyber Kim enjoyed a progressive career on the Flat, winning twice as a three-year-old and going down by a head in an extended 13-furlong Listed contest at Windsor in August, 2006. He subsequently joined the Lambourn yard of Nicky Henderson and made a winning debut when beating Theatre Girl by three lengths in an introductory hurdle at Newbury in December, 2007. Stepping up to Grade Two company, Khyber Kim could only finish fourth in the Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle at Doncaster the following month before taking 10th behind Captain Cee Bee in the Grade One Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at The Festival. He ended the 2007/08 season with fourth in a Grade Two hurdle at Aintree’s Grand National meeting before leaving Henderson’s stable that summer to link up with Nigel Twiston-Davies, to join the Mould’s other horses. He made his handicap debut in a Listed handicap hurdle at Newbury’s Hennessy meeting, keeping on to be second under top-weight, but failed to build on a promising return when 11th in the valuable Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot. Khyber Kim was fifth on his first start over fences in a beginners’ chase at Ludlow in January, 2009, before returning to the smaller obstacles for the Grade Three Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle at The Festival, in which made much of the running weakening to be 22nd. After coming 11th in a Listed handicap hurdle at Aintree in April, Khyber Kim produced a better performance on his latest start to be fifth in the Grade Three Swinton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock on May 9.
Jump Race Record: Starts: 10; 1st: 1; 2nd: 1; 3rd: -; Win & Place Prize Money: £26,105


DISTILLER (IRE)
5 b g Invincible Spirit (IRE) - Bobbydazzle (Rock Hopper)
Jump Form: 756U2190/2611347503210-0 Owner: Raymond Mould
Breeder: Mount Coote Stud
Distiller joined the stable of Nigel Twiston-Davies after being sold for 45,000 guineas at the 2007 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sales. He had previously been trained on the Flat by William Muir, for whom he landed a maiden handicap at Redcar in August, 2007. He recorded a first victory over hurdles at the sixth attempt, taking a Ludlow handicap hurdle by a length and a half in March, 2008. A fruitful summer campaign in 2008 saw Distiller take novice hurdles at Bangor and Worcester and he continued to perform well in handicap hurdles last term, taking fifth behind Crack Away Jack in a valuable Chepstow contest in October and comfortably scoring at Ayr in April, 2009. Distiller was 12th on his seasonal return in the two mile, five furlong, Showcase handicap hurdle at Cheltenham on October 17.
Jump Race Record: Starts: 22; Wins: 4; 2nd: 3; 3rd: 2; Win & Place Prize Money: £30,858


BOBBY EWING (IRE)4 b g Bob´s Return (IRE) - Jacqueline´s Glen (Furry Glen)
Jump Form: 1 Owner: Million In Mind Partnership
Breeder: June Finegan
Purchased for £60,000 by Anthony Bromley at this year’s Brightwells Cheltenham April Select Sale, Bobby Ewing had previously made a bright start to his career in Ireland just nine days earlier when taking a four-year-old point-to-point maiden at Tattersalls Farm. He made his debut for Bromley’s Million In Mind Partnership in an extended two and a half-mile novice hurdle at Uttoxeter on October 30, when he led on the bridle before powering clear approaching the final flight to win impressively by eight lengths.
Race Record: Starts: 1; 1st: 1; 2nd: -; 3rd: -; Win & Place Prize Money: £3,253


MIDNIGHT TUESDAY (FR)
4 b g Kapgarde (FR) - Deat Heat (FR) (Volochine (IRE))
Jump Form: 2 Owner: Tony Eaves
Breeder: S C E A Haras Du Ma
A graduate of the point-to-point scene, Midnight Tuesday made a promising debut for the Nigel Twiston-Davies in an extended two-mile bumper at Aintree on October 26, going down by a length and a quarter to Solway Sam.
Race Record: Starts: 1; Wins: -; 2nd: 1; 3rd: -; Win & Place Prize Money: £1,146



IMPERIAL COMMANDER (IRE)
8 b g Flemensfirth (USA) - Ballinlovane (Le Moss)
Form: 146173/114/161-P Owner: Our Friends In The North
Breeder: Laurence Flynn
The stable star of the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard. Imperial Commander was an emphatic eight-length winner on his only start between the flags at Summerhill in April, 2005. He made his debut for Nigel Twiston-Davies at Cheltenham in October, 2006, when he posted a convincing eight-length victory in an extended two-mile bumper. He returned to Prestbury Park for The Open the following month but could only finish fourth to Massini’s Maguire in a novice hurdle and made a third consecutive appearance at the course the following month when taking sixth in a Grade Two novices’ hurdle at the Boylesports International. He gained his first success over hurdles in January, 2007, recorded a convincing 18-length verdict in a novices’ contest at Newcastle. Imperial Commander ended his season with two pleasing efforts in Grade One company, coming seventh in the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle at The Festival and third in the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in April. He made just three appearances in the 2007/08 campaign, all at Cheltenham, including an all-the-way success in a beginners’ chase at The Showcase, and another front-running victory in a novice contest at The Open. He failed to complete a hat-trick of victories when trailing home last of four in another novice contest at The Boylesports International. Growing pains forced Imperial Commander to miss the rest of the season but he returned to Cheltenham for his first start of the 2008/09 term, making his handicap debut in the Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup. Making his official mark of 139 look generous, Imperial Commander powered to a two and three quarter length victory over Barbers Shop with a further 11 lengths back to the third home Private Be. Imperial Commander failed to give his true running on his next start in the Grade One King George VI Chase at Kempton Park, coming home sixth behind Kauto Star, but proved himself to be a chaser of the highest order with a stunning two-length victory over Voy Por Ustedes in the Grade One Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. On his latest start on April 29, Imperial Commander failed to cope with the soft to heavy ground in the Punchestown Gold Cup and was pulled up by Paddy Brennan before the final fence.
Race Record: Starts: 13; 1st: 6; 2nd: -; 3rd: 1; Win & Place Prize Money: £253,440

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