Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Blog: Hoping to say “Good Boy” to Bobby

We’re now one winner away from 20 for the season, and it’s less than half-way through October, so I’m delighted with how the horses have been going. We’ve some quite nice horses due to run at Chepstow on Friday and Saturday, and at Ffos Las on Sunday, and I’m looking forward to running them.

Friday, Chepstow

Good Boy Bobby (1.35pm) is first up in the Veterans’ Handicap Chase. It’s a lovely race to get stuck into. We like to concentrate on races like these, heading towards the final. He’s a great horse, having already won 10 races for us, and we’re very excited for this, which will be his first run of the season. He’s the sort of horse who does a lot at home, showing exactly what he’s made of, so he should be ready for this. Even now that he’s getting on a bit, he is in as good form as ever and we’ll be hoping for the best.

Chance A Tune (4.33pm) is last of the day on Friday in the Seniors’ Handicap Hurdle. I don’t want too much rain for this one either. He ran really well first time out this season for third at Market Rasen by under two lengths and, hopefully, he can reproduce or better that form. He had nearly 500 days off as a five-year-old, and has been very pleasing ever since then, so we’re hoping for a good season. He’s got James Turner in the saddle again, giving him 10 pounds, which can only help. We’ve been delighted with James’ riding so far this season – he’s been doing really well.

Saturday, Chepstow

Uncle Bert (4.15pm) is our only runner on Saturday in the Silver Trophy. We’re very excited about him. The more it rains, the better. He was superb at Perth in very heavy ground, and he easily could be that again on Saturday, if the rain comes. Two-and-a-half miles is fine for him on heavy ground, but if it gets drier, he can go further. This race has a nice, big prize, and we’ll get it out the way first before thinking of what will be next for him.

Sunday, Ffos Las

Matata (2.45pm) runs in the Novices’ Handicap Chase. It’s his first time over fences and he likes the softer ground. We’re quite looking forward to him running as he’s been working very nicely and schooling well, so it’ll be interesting to see how he takes to fences on the racecourse.

Thoughts on the Grand National Changes

We’ll still be there, whatever the changes are. Those implementing the changes have only got to their best, and we all just have to get on with it. Racing can shoot itself in the foot a bit when everyone starts complaining about changes they don’t like. Let’s see what the effects are before making a judgement.