Nigel Twiston-Davies’ William Hill Blog: Next stop, Broadway

Saturday, Hereford

First of all is Supasunrise in the 2m5f conditional jockeys’ handicap chase (11.55am). Hopefully we’ve got a better pair of reins for him this time as, on his last start, one of them snapped just after the first fence! He won the time before that, so he should have another very good chance. This race is fairly competitive, but he’s in good order and the ground won’t worry him so we’re looking forward to seeing him run.

Kestrel Valley is next in the 3m1f mares’ handicap chase (1.00pm). She’s up 16 pounds since her last run, when she won by 23 lengths over this course and distance, but is given seven back by her claiming rider. She loves the track at Hereford, having now won here twice, so we’re hoping she can do it again!

Finally, there’s Dirty Den in the bumper (3.22pm). He won his debut very easily last month at Huntingdon, really surprising us in the process, so we’d like to see him continue with his progress. Only three of the other runners here have any form, so they could be anything, but our CV is certainly the strongest at the moment and we’ll have to wait and see what he can do.

Saturday, Cheltenham

Kicking us off at Cheltenham is Weveallbeencaught in the 3m1½f handicap chase (12.40pm). He’s back in a handicap this time having finished second last time out in a Listed novices’ chase at Cheltenham on the Old Course, so it’s a lesser class race and he should be bang there. Back to the New Course now, on which he won his maiden hurdle in January, and with nice, soft ground, all conditions should be in his favour.

Then we’ve got Torn And Frayed in the December Gold Cup (1.50pm). He’d been off for a long time before his reappearance at Cheltenham in November, and he was just a bit rusty when he fell but, all things considered, it wasn’t too bad an effort at all after over a year off the track. He won’t want the ground any softer than it already is, as better ground is his preference, but I think the New Course will suit him nicely and he should come on for last time too.

Broadway Boy follows in the 3m2f handicap chase (2.25pm). He’s up against some classy rivals here, with the likes of Threeunderthrufive, City Chief and Protektorat in the mix, but we hope he’ll be able to hold his own well after that 20-length win last time out. We’ll find out a lot more about him here, but we’ve been lucky and had great success in novice handicaps in the past and, hopefully, the handicapper hasn’t really had a chance to get hold of him yet.

Sunday, Southwell

We’re sending two horses to Southwell, the first of which is Tommie Gun in the 2m maiden hurdle (1.55pm). He ran really well for second in a bumper last time, and he looks to be a very smart prospect from what he’s shown us at home, but as he’s still very much learning, he’s more of one to watch for now.

Then the last runner of the weekend is High Treason in the 2m4½f novices’ hurdle (2.30pm).  He’s another very nice young horse who has also run well in bumpers, placing twice from two starts, and I hope he’ll do himself justice over hurdles, but he’d be best just kept an eye on for now.