Twiston-Davies's masterful timing

THEY were right. A new star did conquer Cheltenham's punishing final hill to herald a new dawn for jump racing.

It was, however, 18-year-old Sam Twiston-Davies who won the Paddy Power Cup rather than Nicky Henderson's heavily-backed Long Run who had been compared – incorrectly – to the brilliant Kauto Star.

The teenage jockey's pulsating front-running ride on 20-1 outsider Little Josh was a masterpiece of timing.

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Coming down the final descent before the long, uphill slog for home, he caught a high-quality field napping as he turned a narrow lead into a winning advantage before the final two fences.

Winning for his proud trainer father Nigel, and on the family's local racecourse, the talented teenager – who quit his A-levels in the summer to pursue his racing dream – was immediately hailed by many of the 50,000 sectators present as a future champion.

That may prove so although there are many pitfalls – and likely tumbles – ahead. But, while many young riders have subsequently failed to match initial expectations, there are two subtle differences here.

First, none had the benefit of working for a father who is a Grand National and Gold Cup-winning trainer – Twiston-Davies senior said last month that he is "harder" on his son than his other riders because there is no place for nepotism in top class sport.

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Second, no aspiring 'stars' of recent years can match the teenager's big race record. He was a star in the making before Saturday's nerveless success. Winner of the Foxhunters on Baby Run at the NH Festival, fifth in the Grand National aboard Hello Bud as a raw 17-year-old– and now the Paddy Power victor. Most senior professionals would settle for that record of success.

In that respect, Twiston-Davies, this season's likely conditional champion, is far more advanced at this stage of his career than the peerless Tony McCoy. The future 15-times champion was only having his tentative first rides when in his late teens – big-race successes were still a distant dream.

"I'm getting him DNA-tested to check that I am the father. I rode a bit – but not like this," said the proud trainer who admits to being more concerned about his son driving long distances to Wetherby races, for example, than his safety on a racecourse.

"The owners trust Sam to ride the horses, but as his father, if he mucks up, I feel responsible. I couldn't fault him today – what a fantastic front-running ride.

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"He made the horse's mind up, gave him a breather and kicked on – perfection."

This was high praise from a trainer, and father, who does not believe in sentiment. Even he could not mask his pride as he ran along the Cheltenham horsewalk, with younger son Willie in tow, to greet their conquering heroes.

Unlike his son, who was coming of age in one of racing's most competitive handicaps, Twiston-Davies, who was winning the contest for a third time, is unsure whether eight-year-old Little Josh is destined for the top – even though Imperial Commander won the Paddy Power in 2008 before landing this year's Gold Cup.

Next month's competitive Boylesports handicap at Cheltenham is the next target while Long Run, a disappointing third after again fluffing his jumping lines, is still expected to take on the great Kauto Star in the King George on Boxing Day. He may simply not be as good as the hype.

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As for the winning jockey, he may not even keep the ride on

Little Josh – Paddy Brennan remains the stable's No 1 and was tailed off on Pigeon Island in the big race.

And, even though he rode a winner – ironically at Cheltenham – on his 18th birthday recently, he was in bed by 8pm; he had to ride out at daybreak the next morning. Dedication to his sport had to come first.

As he has shown in his big races, he likes nothing more than the thrill of leading from the front.

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"I've just got to keep working hard," said Twiston-Davies junior, an amiable individual who has matured greatly since the summer when he erred after riding a finish at Perth a circuit prematurely.

"McCoy is great – but there will be never be another Tony McCoy. I'm just Sam. But I couldn't have had a more willing partner in Little Josh. He's just a class horse."

The best day of his life? "No," said the rider who, with great maturity, is keen to play down expectations at every opportunity (except, it seems, when he is aboard a racehorse).

"Not quite, Baby Run is a special horse," he added.

However, it is a question that Sam Twiston-Davies may have to answer with greater regularity if he continues to remain so level-headed on the sport's greatest stages.