Will to win key for Sam Twiston Davies

Leading David Power Jockeys’ Cup contender Sam Twiston-Davies believes working with success-driven trainers over his career has led to him being a better jockey.

The Cotswolds-based rider – who is currently third in the Jockeys’ Cup standings behind Harry Skelton and Harry Cobden – was brought up around success in his formative years, with his father Nigel counting Grand National wins with Earth Summit (1998) and Bindaree (2002) amongst an impressive CV.

Nigel has now been joined by Sam’s younger brother Willy on the training licence and it’s a partnership that is always striving for further success.

Twiston-Davies told Sporting Life in the third of their David Power Jockeys’ Cup podcast series: “I was really lucky growing up – I remember the Grand Nationals – and we were brought up around race horses.

“We were spending time at the breakfast table with Carl Llewellyn, Tony Evans, Dave England, Tom Molloy – jockeys who rode a lot of winners and were then educating me and my brother Willy about everything, not just racing.

“We were experts in sex education well before the classes started at school – it’s a shame there wasn’t a GCSE in it!

“But Nigel has always been so successful because he has always had a go at winning the big races, he wasn’t scared of any horse.

“Willy is as bad a loser as me which is handy. Willy and Dad are very good as straight away they look to next time and what they can do to win, whereas I’m always just angry at being beaten.”

Early grounding

Twiston-Davies honed his craft in the point-to-point scene, but recognises the impact that his mum had on his early development in the saddle.

He explained: “Where my mum was so good was that she would encourage me and tell me that the point-to-points were there for me to learn, so there was no pressure as Dad was always elsewhere at the races.

“As a result, I could learn without pressure.

“I went the wrong way, failed to weigh-in, and I was able to make a lot of mistakes and learn quickly.

“So, when I became a conditional jockey, I was a lot more comfortable.”

Ditcheat role

Following notable amateur success on the likes of Baby Run in the Foxhunters’ Chase at the 2010 Cheltenham Festival, Twiston-Davies began to ride out at Paul Nicholls’ Ditcheat yard, eventually going on to become their stable jockey in 2014.

He recalled: “Ruby Walsh stopped and I came in to ride Big Buck’s one day. It didn’t go to plan in the Cleeve Hurdle but I started to get more involved at the yard and the horses were winning at the second meetings for me.

“I actually accepted a job for Dai Walters, Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, but Paul rang me back and I ended up with him.

“It was a remarkable time – we had winners on 26 Saturdays in a row – and Paul has had so many great wins.

“He was so good at training a horse perfectly to the day for one race; there were so many occasions when he said ‘this was the plan’ and it worked out impeccably.”

Returning home

Following a dip – ‘my confidence wasn’t great, I wasn’t riding at my best and I was second-guessing everything’ – Twiston-Davies returned to the family’s Grange Hill Farm stables in 2018 and has enjoyed a renaissance, including a 2023 Cheltenham Festival win on the Patrick Neville-trained The Real Whacker.

However, he looks back fondly on his time with Nicholls and their shared achievements.

He said: “I haven’t been down there [to Ditcheat] in years but we still have a good relationship and have shared lots of good memories over the years.

“He wasn’t the easiest to ride for but he was so good. He just wants to win as badly as any jockey and it’s understandable when he gets upset – you see how much it means to him.”

“Harry [Cobden] is quickly catching up Ruby Walsh, but I’m the third-most-winning jockey for Paul and I’m proud of that.”

Gavin Sheehan: Stamina test to suit Git Maker

Gavin Sheehan has been in great form in the David Power Jockeys’ Cup in recent weeks and remains in sixth place after finishing third aboard Navajo Indy in the William Hill Hurdle.  

Gavin, who has two rides at Haydock on Saturday, has endured a quieter week this week, and here’s what he had to say to Great British Racing. 

I have been travelling around much less this week, so I have enjoyed being quieter and spending more time with friends and family. On the way back from racing at Newbury on Saturday, I stopped and had a drink in The Pheasant with some friends, and on Sunday I shared a lift down to Exeter where Julius Des Pictons ran a massive race to finish third, so I was able to watch the Ireland game on the way home on the car! 

My partner Immy, and son Teddy, came with me on Thursday to Sandown where I won the Grade Two Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle on Hollygrove Cha Cha for Jamie Snowden. We just managed to hold on for the win, so I was really pleased, and it was lovely to have them there with me. 

I had a day off on Friday, so I was sorting out a new car for my partner. We are getting a five door instead of a three door, which will be much easier with the baby! It was also Valentine’s Day, so the three of us went for an early meal. 

I collected six points last weekend in the William Hill Hurdle on Navajo Indy for Tom Symonds as he finished third, which has taken me up to 150 points.  

That also kept me in sixth place, and I am still feeling hopeful for the next few weeks.

This weekend I just have two rides at Haydock, and a day off on Sunday, so we are having a few friends round. Brendan Powell is going to come along with his new baby, as well as James Bowen and Paul O’Brien. Immy is going to cook us all a roast and we will play a few games. 

Two rides at Haydock on Saturday 

1.28: Marche d’Aligre

The first of my two rides for Jamie Snowden is on Marche d’Aligre. He won first time out this season and finished second in a Grade Two at Chepstow last time out. He is a horse I really like, and he is still improving. He is a proper jumps horse with big scope, and will hopefully have a big chance at Haydock.

3.15: Git Maker 

Git Maker is joint-favourite in the Oddschecker Grand National Trial Handicap Chase and he had his first run for a while at Windsor last time out over hurdles. It wasn’t much of a gallop, as it turned into a sprint, so that didn’t suit him, and I am very excited to be back on him here. He should be better suited in this race, and fingers crossed I can pick up a few David Power Jockeys’ Cup points. 

Gavin Sheehan is an ambassador for BetVictor. 

Blow for de Boinville’s Jockeys’ Cup hopes as Sir Gino ruled out

The news that leading British Cheltenham Festival hope Sir Gino has been ruled out for the rest of the season has come as a major blow to all at the Nicky Henderson yard.

The five-year-old was an impressive winner of the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on his reappearance before making a sparkling chasing debut when routing Ballyburn at Kempton over Christmas.

He was a short-priced favourite for the My Pension Expert Arkle at Cheltenham but was forced to miss an intended run in the Game Spirit at Newbury on Saturday because of a “small wound” to the leg.

The trainer initially expected him to be quickly back in full work but on Sunday reported his recovery had stalled, and it has transpired that an infection means he now requires hospital treatment.

In a statement on X, Henderson said: “Unfortunately Sir Gino’s situation has deteriorated somewhat and he has been admitted to the equine hospital.

“As a result of initial examinations at Donnington Grove, an infection has invaded the ligaments in his near hind leg. This will require lengthy treatment that will sadly rule him out of any further racing this season.

“This is a dreadful blow to Joe and Marie Donnelly and everybody at Seven Barrows, but we will be doing everything possible to help this incredible bright light back to full fitness next season.”

Regular pilot Nico de Boinville is currently in fourth place in the David Power Jockeys’ Cup and the untimely set back for Sir Gino means that he faces an even stiffer task as he attempts to chase down competition-leading Harry Skelton.

Trip to Warwick pays off as Skelton extends lead

Some excellent race planning on Saturday from Team Skelton helped younger brother Harry Skelton (270) further increase his lead at the head of the David Power Jockeys’ Cup leaderboard. 

Dan Skelton’s Arkle hope L’Eau du Sud was sent off at 1/5 for the Kingmaker Novices’ Chase at Warwick and, though made to work hard by the Lorcan Williams-ridden Rubaud, was able to secure a length success, while stablemate Milos was very well-backed before his much easier success in the Veterans’ Handicap Chase 70 minutes later. 

With four more points added thanks to the fourth-placed finish of West Balboa in the listed Mares’ Hurdle in-between, it was a successful afternoon for the jockey who now leads Harry Cobden (234) by 36 points. 

Cobden’s sole return on a disappointing afternoon came via a third-placed finish for Bravemansgame in the Denman Chase which was dominated by the Charlie Deutsch-ridden Djelo. The winner looks likely to head to the Ryanair next as connections eye up some more success in front of the ITV cameras. Seventh-placed Deutsch now has 124 points.

Third-placed Sam Twiston-Davies (218) closed the gap on Cobden to 16 points thanks to a Grade 2 win of his own, as Master Chewy stayed on well to pip Libberty Hunter (Adam Wedge, 38) and stablemate Matata (Jonathan Burke, 70) in the Game Spirit. 

Nico de Boinville (206) added a 15th Jockeys’ Power win of the competition as Joyeuse scampered clear of the field in the William Hill Hurdle, providing trainer Nicky Henderson with his seventh win in the historic valuable handicap. 

In terms of the conditional riders, Freddie Gingell – despite not being able utilise his 3 lb claim – was second in the Denman Chase on Hitman, following on from finishing fourth in the ITV opener on Kruger Park.

It’s proving to be a tight tussle in the bid to be the leading conditional rider, with Gingell leapfrogging Caoilin Quinn (52) to join Dylan Johnston – who was second in the William Hill Hurdle on Lump Sum – on 62 points.

Family affair as O’Neills target further Jockeys’ Cup success

The O’Neill name is well-known in the world of racing, with Jonjo O’Neill becoming a household name thanks to his efforts in the saddle in the 1970s and 1980s.

However, having built up his Jackdaws Castle stables in the Cotswolds since retiring from riding, O’Neill Sr has seen his sons AJ and Jonjo Jr become an integral part of the family’s training setup.

Successful amateur rider AJ joined his father on the licence in April 2024, and it’s a move that has paid off according to AJ’s brother Jonjo who told Sporting Life in the second of their David Power Jockeys’ Cup podcast series: “It’s great because Dad’s got all the experience in the world and we’ve got some new ideas and Dad’s very willing to try them.

“I think it’s definitely brought a new dimension in.  It’s another pair of eyes and ears and because we’re all family as well, we’re all singing off the same hymn sheet.

“So, it’s not really like a job for any of us. It’s just a way of life – we’re very lucky.”

With the closeness that comes with family working together also bringing its challenges, O’Neill explains that there is only one boss at Jackdaws Castle.

He added: “We all have our fair share of moments, to be honest, but mum (Jacqui) is the boss.

“She’s a massive part of it, especially on the business side with the owners – she’s absolutely brilliant.”

O’Neill – who picked up 10 points in the David Power Jockeys’ Cup when riding Springwell Bay to win the Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day – acknowledges the example of his father’s work ethic as key to his own early success in the saddle, but is also well aware of the hard graft put in by others at the yard.

Crediting Alan Berry and Jonny Kavanagh in particular, O’Neill explained: “We’re very lucky we’ve got some experienced members of staff that could probably train in their own right.

“So, to have them in the yard, when you’re racing or at the sales having busy days, you just know that the yard’s going to run like clockwork.

“Those sorts of people are very hard to find now.”

Gavin Sheehan: I’m hoping my Newbury rides have answers

It has been a hectic week this week, most my time has been spent travelling up and down the country, I have been putting in the miles.

I did however make some time to go to the local pub quiz yesterday with my girlfriend and mother-in-law – we didn’t do very well but it was good fun to get involved! I have also enjoyed filming with ITV for the second series of Champions: Full Gallop which I am looking forward to doing more of and seeing the series when it comes out.

Last weekend was a success, I picked up two wins and 24 points for the David Power Jockeys’ Cup. I had a good winner for Olly Murphy on Gunsight Ridge – Olly has a great few horses and it is always good to be involved. My other win was on O’Connell for Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith, he seems very progressive and will hopefully head for a big race such as the Midlands National. I am currently sixth place on the leaderboard which I am pleased with, but I will keep pushing for further, every point counts!

Newbury on Saturday: I’m hoping Law can rule

I am looking forward to riding at Newbury – I’ve got two rides which will be on ITV, so there are points up for grabs. I have decent chances in both races if the ground is good, so fingers crossed the weather doesn’t take a turn.

The first ride is on Up For Parol (1.50) for trainer Jamie Snowden. He is a dude of a horse to ride and has been rejuvenated by the step up in trip. He came second at Sandown over three miles in December and won at Ffos Las last month which I claimed 10 points for. Newbury should suit him as it is a nice galloping track and looks like the right race. I really enjoy riding him, all he wants to do is please.

Ga Law (2.25) is another of Jamie’s horses, on paper it looks like he has a good chance, but I am not sure he will stay the three miles. He has run this far a couple of times, and it hasn’t worked well for him but as I mentioned if it is good ground he will run a massive race.

Navajo Indy (3.35) will have cheekpieces on for the first time. I lost the race early with him last time at Windsor, but it is a very sharp track, and he did very well to come fourth. He likes Newbury and it is a hot race with a lot of prize money on offer, hence why he will have the cheek pieces on to sharpen him up as he will need to be at his best.

Kernie d’Airy (4.45) isn’t a horse I have ridden before, but Jamie’s horses always run well in bumper races, and it is a learning curve, so I am looking forward out finding out a bit more.

Exeter on Sunday: Julius can progress

I only have the one ride at Exeter on Sunday, aboard Julius Des Pictons (2.30). He has won on his last two starts and continues to improve. He always jumps well and is a straightforward ride, so I am looking forward to seeing him progress further. It is a hot race, but I have confidence in him.

Gavin Sheehan is an ambassador for BetVictor

Skelton sees Jockeys’ Cup lead trimmed by in-form Cobden

David Power Jockeys’ Cup leader Harry Skelton picked up six points on Sunday but had his lead trimmed by 10 thanks to a 16-point haul for Harry Cobden. 

Cobden moved into second place on Saturday ahead of Sam Twiston Davies and made the most of the long journey north to Musselburgh by picking up a win on Insurrection (with the Skelton-ridden Asta La Pasta in second) in the bet365 Frodon Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase. He also picked up points thanks to the third-placed finish of Red Risk in the Pertemps Network Group Handicap Hurdle. 

Skelton currently has 246 points compared to 228 for Cobden.

Twiston-Davies (204) was again left to curse the ITV scheduling, as for the second day running he would have picked up some points, but the bet365 Scottish Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in which he was third on Clap Of Thunder was outside of the terrestrial TV coverage. 

Other movers on Sunday included David Bass and Kevin Brogan, though, despite 14-point afternoons, neither has enough points to yet break into the top 20 on the Jockeys’ Cup leaderboard. 

A big-race win in the bet365 Edinburgh National Handicap Chase for Brendan Powell aboard Magna Sam – who was winning the race for the second time – allowed him to close the gap on eighth-placed Ben Jones, while Danny McMenamin (+6) and Gavin Sheehan (+4) both added a few more points following successful Saturdays. 

Kopek Des Bordes dazzles under Townend

Kopek Des Bordes  rocketed to Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favouritism in extending his unbeaten run to three with an effortless victory in the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Winner of a Fairyhouse bumper last season, Kopek Des Bordes had opened his hurdles account with victory at this track over Christmas and despite fog hindering viewing that day, punters were confident the five-year-old had posted an eyecatching run.

Willie Mullins’ charge was sent off the 4-5 market leader on the back of that and while Paul Townend’s mount got mildly distracted by a loose horse on the run for home, the result was never in doubt.

He jumped the last well clear of the field and sauntered home 13 lengths ahead of stablemate Karniquet, with Warren Greatrex’s British raider Good And Clever claiming an honourable third at Grade One level.

Kopek Des Bordes was cut to 7-4 from 12-1 with Coral for the Supreme at Cheltenham next month, while Betfair go 6-4 about his chances.

Mullins said: “The horse was very keen and free the whole way, but Paul just let him have his head going to his hurdles and he’s jumped way better than Christmas. We did a lot of schooling with him since the last day.

“He’s put him in a lovely position, then the loose horse came and I knew what was going to happen, it set him mad as Paul doesn’t usually go on three furlongs out. The loose horse then ran wide at the second-last and Paul had to yank him back, but he still put in a huge jump at it. You’d think he’d have no trouble jumping fences after that.

“It was a tremendous performance. We thought he was good enough to win a bumper and win his hurdles, but you never know if a horse is this good. They’re Grade One material and very few horses show you that at home. They don’t show me anyway, I don’t ask them that many questions and let them show it on the racecourse.

“This fellow was a beautiful horse at the sales, he didn’t walk the way you’d probably want one to walk but with his pedigree, age, the scope and size of him, we took a chance on him.

“I don’t see any need to go up in trip because he’s going to need a very fast pace in his races.”

Sheehan stars at Sandown in Jockeys’ Cup pursuit

Victories aboard Gunsight Ridge and O’Connell at Sandown ensured that Gavin Sheehan was the star jockey on Saturday as the Irish rider secured 24 points in his bid to become the inaugural David Power Jockeys’ Cup champion. 

That moved him closer to the lead, but he remains in sixth place, albeit closer to the current tally of fifth-placed Sean Bowen who was in action at Wetherby. 

Towards the top of the Jockeys’ Cup leaderboard, reigning Champion Jockey Harry Cobden picked up 18 points thanks to placed efforts on Just Lucky Sivola and Henri The Second. That moved him into second place ahead of Sam Twiston-Davies who was out of luck on his only ITV ride of the day.

David Noonan also achieved the same tally of points on Saturday, primarily due to the Scottish County Hurdle success of Welsh Charger, though he has plenty of ground to make up on the current leader Harry Skelton. 

Skelton was able to add six points to his total, and he now tops the standings on 238 points. 

Ben Jones secured 10 points thanks to the success of Handstands in a thrilling renewal of the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase, though made up no ground on Charlie Deutsch – who is one place above him – due to Deutsch’s earlier win on Sole Solution. 

Gavin Sheehan: I’m hopeful of picking up points at Sandown

It’s been relatively quiet on the racing front this week with some cancelled meetings on Wednesday, but I still managed to bring up a double at Chepstow before that which is always nice.

With less of a frantic week than normal it was a case of spending a bit more time with the family and doing a bit of car shopping as I’m on the look out for a new one – any sponsors out there, get in touch!

But, who knows, if I find myself at the top of the David Power Jockeys’ Cup come April that might be the first thing on the shopping list.

Decent chances at Sandown on Saturday 

It’s a really strong card at Sandown and I’ve got four rides in front of the ITV cameras. I’ll be aiming for the win across all of the races with the hunt on for David Power Jockeys’ Cup points.

My first mount is Grand Geste (1.25), one of two rides for Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith. This looks a wide-open race and I definitely go with a chance here. This horse has finished third on his last two runs so we’ll be hoping to go a couple better. Hopefully he’ll like Sandown because, as I’ve mentioned here before, some horses can take to this track more than others.

Gunsight Ridge (2.00) is my first ride of the day for Olly Murphy, who is flying this season and really showing his credentials as a trainer. I’ve only ridden this horse once and that was at Wetherby this time last year. Unfortunately, he fell as we were making our move and challenging the leaders. He also fell at the last at the last at Cheltenham two runs ago when he was two lengths down on Matata and he would have gone close had it not been for that mistake, so hopefully we can get back on track here at Sandown where he has run well. He’s got a massive chance if he can travel and jump in this.

What A Johnny (3.07) is off a light weight in this £100,000 contest and, after finishing third around Cheltenham last time, can be in the shake up here. I’ve not ridden him before and Sean Bowen has done the steering the last twice on him, but hopefully off this light weight he can definitely be in the mix.

O’Connell (3.42) is bidding for a hat-trick in the three-mile chase and I think he holds every chance. I won on him at Carlisle two runs ago, and since then he’s had another victory at Market Rasen on Boxing Day. I know that he’ll relish this stiff finish and hopefully he’ll be able to keep on progressing.

Silver Hill (4.12) is another to have won at Market Rasen when I steered him round back in December on his first run. He never looked like winning that race, but the penny started to drop turning into the straight and I think he won going away. It was a really good performance given he was behind the bridle the whole race, but he’ll need to step forward for this. In truth, we just don’t know how good this horse is yet.

One ride on  Sunday 

I’m heading up to Musselburgh for the one ride in front of the ITV cameras on Sunday and that’s Bowmore (1.55) for Henry De Bromhead – my first ride for the trainer. Bowmore won at Tipperary back in July and has stepped up in class since without scoring. It’s a small field here and I’m hoping that my mount will be able to be there at the finish to round off the weekend with a few Jockeys’ Cup points.

Gavin Sheehan is an ambassador for BetVictor