Sam Twiston-Davies’ William Hill Blog: Now a case of turning up on the day for Potters Charm

William Hill ambassador Sam Twiston-Davies previews his rides on Tuesday and Wednesday at Cheltenham Festival.

William Hill are Best Odds Guaranteed on all UK & Irish races from 8am on the day of the race, as well as Non-Runner Money Back on all 28 Cheltenham Festival races.

To be a jockey at the Cheltenham Festival is such a privilege. Even small things—like getting your suit on every day, getting to the track, and walking the course—are special. You just look back from the top of the hill and start seeing the crowds flood in, and you think, this is what we do for work!

Riding out on the morning of Cheltenham—especially on the Tuesday—is really weird. Eerie, almost. It’s the calm before the storm. On Tuesday, everyone’s on edge but filled with excitement—I can’t even put it into words.

I always end up leaving ridiculously early. We’re probably only ten miles from the Cheltenham car park, but you leave extra early because you’re so scared of getting stuck in traffic. Normally, I get to courses at least two hours before my ride. But for Cheltenham, you’ll find yourself getting there three or four hours before your ride, thinking, what am I doing?

You actually end up walking the track twice some days because you’ve got nothing else to do!

Tuesday, Cheltenham

I kick things off with Broadway Boy (2.40 pm) in the Ultima. He came back sick after his last run, but he is back in form now and in good shape. Obviously, Willy has always been keen to have a go at this, then onto the Grand National. He seems to be in really good form. His track work was immaculate this week. As I said last week, if he turns up healthy and in good shape, you know he’ll give everything up that hill, and that is how he seems.

I then have Casa No Mento (3.20 pm) in the Mares’ Hurdle. It was great to see her get her head back in front over fences last time—she is back on track. It’s obviously a red-hot race, but at the same time, while she’s in good form, why not drop in, have a go, and see what she can pick up? This is our Olympics, and a lot of owners invest heavily in these horses. When you have one of her level, you have to throw your hat in the ring and have a go.

Burdett Road (4.00 pm) goes in the Champion Hurdle. This race has a huge pot of prize money, so it’s always worth being in there. He’ll really enjoy the ground, and he likes the track a lot, so there are plenty of positives for him to put in a big run.

I finish off Tuesday with Liam Swagger (4.40 pm) in the Fred Winter. He’s had a bit of a break, and then he won at Southwell on the Flat the other day—he absolutely bolted up, which was great to see. James Owen sent me some videos of him jumping recently, and he looks in good shape.

Wednesday, Cheltenham

Potters Charm (1.20 pm) goes in the Turners, which has always been the plan. He’s well in himself. Now, it’s just a case of turning up on the day and hoping he’s good enough. He’s a very good horse in his own right, so it’s just a case of turning up and giving it a go.

My other ride on Wednesday is Captain Morgs (2.40 pm) in the Coral Cup for Nicky Henderson. I actually rode him in the Pertemps previously. He likes a sound surface, but it was too soft when I rode him, which was disappointing. He’s got some better form on a firmer surface, so a dry week should suit him well.

Weighing room

I rode my first Cheltenham Festival horse in 2009—it was in the Kim Muir on Irish Raptor, and I was awful. It really made me wake up when I went into the Foxhunters on the Friday. But you never forget that first feeling of walking into Cheltenham at the Festival.

Now, as time has gone on, you still get that buzz. Not much has changed—just where I sit in the weighing room. I’m nearer the door now! There are three different valets, so you’re sat next to whoever your valet is.

The Cheltenham weighing rooms are actually very special. Jockeys tend to end up sticking to the positions where they’ve had their winners. Since The Real Whacker’s Brown Advisory victory, I’ve been in the same spot—so I’ll have Keith Donoghue to my left and Gavin Sheehan to my right.

When we were lads, we all knew where the likes of AP McCoy and Dicky Johnson sat—their big winners were written on the wall. It’s a great weighing room.