Sam Twiston-Davies’ William Hill Blog: Hoping for more of the same in 2025

William Hill ambassador Sam Twiston-Davies mulls over New Year’s Day at Cheltenham and previews his rides on Saturday at Sandown.

Starting 2025 with a win aboard Strackan for Henry Daly was a fantastic way to kick off the year. He jumped and travelled beautifully, handling the ground with ease and finished strongly. It was interesting to hear Henry’s post-race interview, where he mentioned how sometimes the penny just drops for certain horses. That certainly seemed to be the case here, as everything came together perfectly for Strackan.

On the flip side, it was disappointing how things unfolded with Broadway Boy, but that’s racing—setbacks happen. He’s a horse with plenty of ability, and he’s certainly not one to write off.

Gowel Road, on the other hand, delivered an outstanding performance. The plan now is to freshen him up and aim for the Cleeve Hurdle back at Cheltenham at the end of January. With the right preparation, he’ll be ready to give another strong account of himself there.

I’m pleased to have gained more points in the David Power Jockeys’ Cup, which keeps me in second place for now. However, for me, that’s just an added bonus. What matters most to any jockey, myself included, is having the opportunity to compete in quality races with strong chances. While it’s gratifying to be in the running for the Cup, it doesn’t change how I approach my rides or my overall focus.

Saturday, Sandown

I’ve always loved riding at Sandown, even if it hasn’t been my luckiest track. It’s a challenging course, and the chase track, in particular, is one of my absolute favourites. The railway fences and the stretch over the seven down the back straight are a real spectacle and make Sandown stand out as one of the most exciting tracks to ride. Honestly, it’s well up there in my top five courses, even though I haven’t ridden a huge number of winners there! It’s a special place, and I’m really looking forward to being back there this Saturday.

Firestream (1:15pm) lines up in the Seniors’ Handicap Hurdle, a race that looks like a good starting point for him after a break since last January. He’s always shown plenty of ability, and he looks rather unexposed so this race should suit him well. I’m hopeful he’ll put in a solid performance and be in the mix for a place.

Next up is Dameofthecotswolds (2:25pm), a mare who’s been steadily progressing. Sandown’s stiff two-and-a-half-mile journey should play to her strengths, and I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of her staying three miles. She’s been a real asset for Dad, so fingers crossed she can continue her good form.

Finally, I have Jour d’Evasion (3:35pm), a game, front-running type who’s a very good jumper and enjoys going right-handed. He ran a solid race here at Sandown in November when placing, and with a nice weight on his back I’m hoping for another strong performance—and maybe even a step forward to get the win.

Friday morning will see me heading over to James Owen’s yard to catch up with East India Dock and the rest of his string. They’ve all been performing at such a high level recently, so it’ll be great to see how they’re shaping up. I’ll be sure to share my thoughts and insights in next week’s blog.