Young star Sam given his reward with Big Buck’s ride

THE odds on racing’s rising star Sam Twiston-Davies forging a long-term alliance with top trainer Paul Nicholls shortened still further after the young jockey was handed the dream ride of staying on great Big Buck’s.
Shotgun Paddy (left) ridden by Leighton Aspell ploughs through the last fence and goes on to win ahead of Carruthers (right) ridden by Nico De Boinville in the Betfred Classic ChaseShotgun Paddy (left) ridden by Leighton Aspell ploughs through the last fence and goes on to win ahead of Carruthers (right) ridden by Nico De Boinville in the Betfred Classic Chase
Shotgun Paddy (left) ridden by Leighton Aspell ploughs through the last fence and goes on to win ahead of Carruthers (right) ridden by Nico De Boinville in the Betfred Classic Chase

The pair have forged a significant big race alliance after Twiston-Davies, 21, won the bet365 Hurdle at Wetherby’s Charlie Hall meeting on the talented but enigmatic veteran Tidal Bay with a masterclass of jockeyship that defied his young years.

It is a blow to Daryl Jacob, the current stable jockey to Nicholls, who has been overlooked for the rides on the returning Big Buck’s and King George hero Silviniaco Conti, second favourite for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

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He has only been in the role since the summer when Ruby Walsh ended his association with Nicholls to concentrate on his commitments in Ireland.

Ironically it was Jacob, winner of the 2012 Grand National on the Nicholls-trained Neptune Collonges, who was in the saddle when Big Buck’s had a racecourse gallop at Exeter recently.

The galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on January 25 is the horse’s intended starting point before bidding for a fifth Ladbrokes World Hurdle crown in March.

Owned by Andy Stewart and unbeaten in 18 starts since reverting to hurdles, Big Buck’s has been ridden in all bar two of those runs by Walsh, with Tony McCoy deputising when he was injured.

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Walsh is now riding full-time for Willie Mullins, with potential World Hurdle rides including Annie Power and Boston Bob.

Twiston-Davies said: “I am absolutely delighted to get the ride on a really exceptional horse like him and I’m very much looking forward to it.

“He is a legend of racing and he looks a pleasure to ride.

“It will take plenty of time to look at all his wins, and I will be very happy to watch every single one.”

Stewart had discussed options with Nicholls in Barbados and told The Sun: “We explored all sorts of possibilities but we had to make sure whoever rode Big Buck’s in the Cleeve Hurdle would also be available for the World Hurdle.

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“Ruby Walsh and AP McCoy will have other commitments,” he said. “Daryl Jacob is Paul’s stable jockey and our choice of Sam is no reflection on him. He will ride either Celestial Halo or Salubrious.”

Yet, with the reputation of Twiston-Davies in the ascendancy, many believe the ride on Big Buck’s will lead to him joining Nicholls at Ditcheat on a long-term basis. Even the jockey’s trainer father Nigel has accepted that he will not be able to stand in the way of his son if a top job becomes available, though much could hinge on whether his young horse The New One can win the Champion Hurdle in March and then become a top-class chaser.

Nicholls, who won seven successive trainers’ titles before losing his crown to Nicky Henderson last season, has been acquiring a clutch of young horses as he bids to regain his championship.

He already has a significant lead of around £400,000 over Henderson in this year’s race which was boosted still further by the win of Saphir du Rheu in the William Hill Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton.

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Like Big Buck’s, the horse is owned by Stewart who watched on from Barbados where he watched the contest with Nicholls after they had met in the Caribbean to discuss the Twiston-Davies booking.

The horse, ridden with confidence by the trainer’s nephew Harry Derham, drew six lengths clear in the valuable handicap.

Nicholls’s assistant Tom Jonason, said: “We thought he had a fairly good chance.

“Paul’s first remark was what a chaser he’ll make. He’s a class horse, more than just a handicapper, and Paul was already thinking of a race at Haydock in three weeks or maybe the National Spirit at Fontwell.”

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The aforementioned Henderson did have some success with a one-two in the rearranged Grade One Tolworth Hurdle Novices’ Hurdle when Royal Boy shaded stablemate Josses Hill thanks to a supreme AP McCoy ride. The disappointment was David Pipe’s The Liquidator who set the pace before fading.

In other weekend action, Leighton Aspell secured a big race double with a masterful ride on Shotgun Paddy in the Betfred Classic Chase at Warwick.

Aspell had earlier been on the mark with Deputy Dan in the Grade Two Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle.

Closer to home, Malton trainer Brian Ellison continued his rich vein of form when Yesyoucan took the novice steeplechase under Wayne Hutchinson who then completed a double aboard Allied Answer for Louth-based Steve Gollings.

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There was also a double triumph for Timmy Murphy who took the opener on Red Sherlock, one to follow, and the feature handicap chase on Desert Cry for Donald McCain.

Embsay Crag had to survive a stewards’ inquiry to take the handicap hurdle for Middleham trainer Phil Kirby and jockey Richie McGrath while Alan Swinbank’s Molly Cat took the finale.

Prize money for the Juddmonte International, York’s richest race, is rising by £50,000 to £800,000 and not as reported in Saturday’s Yorkshire Post.

Frost claimed yesterday’s jumps card at Kelso while tomorrow’s meeting at Lingfield has fallen victim to waterlogging.

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