Twiston-Davies in confident mood for Big Buck’s return

SAM Twiston-Davies says record-breaking Big Buck’s will be “very hard to beat” when he makes his eagerly-awaited comeback at Cheltenham this Saturday following a 14-month injury lay-off.
Sam Twiston-DaviesSam Twiston-Davies
Sam Twiston-Davies

The horse was foot perfect during a schooling session at the yard of trainer Paul Nicholls in the hands of Twiston-Davies, 21, who has inherited the riding responsibilities from Ruby Walsh, who is now based in Ireland.

The winner of 18 consecutive races before straining a tendon on the gallops, the booking of Twiston-Davies surprised many at a time when Daryl Jacob, the 2012 Grand National-winning rider, is the No 1 jockey at the Nicholls stable.

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However, Nicholls has subsequently claimed that Jacob did not feel able to handle the pressure of riding such a high-profile horse and he had no hesitation in asking Twiston-Davies after the rising star impressed many with his winning ride on the enigmatic Tidal Bay at Wetherby last November.

The precise line-up in the galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle remains unclear – trainers can still enter horses after less than 10 contenders were submitted for the initial declarations yesterday.

“He felt in great order. It was my first time schooling down at Paul’s. I’d been in on Friday to give him three steady canters but I jumped him (yesterday) and it all went very smoothly, he jumped brilliantly,” said Twiston-Davies.

“I took him for a canter afterwards and he felt great. It’s effortless for him, he finds it all very easy, going round the school, going up the gallop, it’s all just in his stride.

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“He’s never under any pressure because he just has that engine. He’s an unbelievable horse and he’s very exciting, well it is for me and I’m in a very lucky position. Obviously, if he retains his ability, which I’m sure he does, he’s going to be very hard to beat.”

Both Wetherby and Leicester’s jumps meetings today have to pass early morning inspections because of the threat of frost.

If racing goes ahead in West Yorkshire, Secrete Stream could be one to watch in the Download New Racing UK iPad App “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle.

Malton trainer Malcolm Jefferson thinks a great deal of this five-year-old chestnut, who looked the real deal when winning by 11 lengths at Wetherby over Christmas.

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The form looks strong, too, as the runner-up that day, Allied Answer, has subsequently won.

Before that, and again over course and distance, Secrete Stream gave the upwardly-mobile Diamond King a bit of a run for his money on what was his hurdling bow.

Proven when the mud is flying, it will be a shade disappointing if he cannot win a race like this before stepping up in grade.

Jockey Frankie Dettori has three booked rides as he returns to action at Lingfield tomorrow.

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The Italian has been sidelined since early October when he suffered a fractured ankle in a fall going down to the start before a race at Nottingham. The three-time champion jockey said: “I’m mad keen to start again. The leg is good, all’s good.”