Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Five to Follow for the 2022/23 National Hunt Season

Sergeant Wilson

I bought him at the sales as an investment, he won his first bumper by 17 lengths, which is probably as far as we’ve ever had one win a bumper by. So I’ve sold him, I’m very proud of him and I think he’s going to be very good. He reminded me a little bit of one of our very best horses ever, The New One, who wasn’t very big either, but they’re both strong enough. If they’re good enough, they’re big enough. When he won at Taunton, we knew he was nice but we didn’t think he was going to be that good. He’s going into novice hurdles now – as soon as we have good going, he’ll be away. He wants rain but I think he’ll go over any ground as long as it’s not too quick. I’m sure he’ll stay – bumper winners normally need further later on – but at the moment he’s quite a busy, quite keen horse and we’ll definitely go two miles to start off with.

I Like To Move It

He was a star last year, and hopefully he will be this year, too. We’ve got some tasty races for him; the Greatwood Hurdle, the International Hurdle, things like that planned out for him. We’re going for the big races. There was temptation to go chasing with him, but there’s plenty of time. There’s still money to be won with him over hurdles. We attribute his disappointing run at Cheltenham to him just being a five-year-old at the end of his second season – he’d had enough racing by then. A fast run two mile race brings out the best in him, but I’m sure he’ll want further in time. A strongly run race, and he’ll be great. He’s won on everything so ground doesn’t matter.

Weveallbeencaught

Clever name because he’s by Getaway. He won his only bumper for us really well, he’s going hurdling this season, and hopefully the sky is the limit. We didn’t think he’d win at Newbury, we thought he’d want further, but he won and won nicely which just got us even more excited than we were before. He’s a real, big chasing type. Hopefully he’ll do very well this season, but over fences his future is bright.

Awesome Foursome

This horse’s family have been bred, owned and trained by me for four generations. He’s going to run over two and half miles, probably, very soon. As soon as we have proper winter ground – not watered – he’ll be away in a novice hurdle. He can go over any track because he’s nice and compact.

Beauport 

Chasing has always been his game, so he’s looking to go novice chasing at the end of this month or the beginning of November, at Warwick or maybe Carlisle. He’s a great jumper, so could handle the tough jumping track at Warwick on his chase debut. He’s superb schooling over fences at home. He’s never done anything wrong and he’s a lovely horse to have. His best form has been on proper soft ground, which is what he wants. It won’t be any time at all before he’s going over three miles – he’s a real stayer, hence he’s done best on soft ground. One day, I’m sure, he’ll go in for the Grand National. If everything works, he might be one for the three mile novice chase at the Cheltenham Festival.