Nigel Twiston-Davies’ William Hill Blog: Clap Of Thunder could take Newbury by storm

February is off to a promising start, with solid races from the runners we’ve had so far. It’s a shame that we’ve lost Warwick this weekend, as we had three runners there, but they’ll get their day another time.

We’ve lately hit 60 winners for the season, and I hope it won’t be too long before we see 70!

Saturday, Newbury

First up at Newbury is Equinus in the three-mile handicap hurdle (1.30pm). Having started off his season really well, with a five-length win at Aintree, he’s been a bit disappointing since, but we’re hoping that he’s beginning to come back to form. He’ll be fine with the conditions and he’s run nicely at Newbury in the past, so we’ll see how he goes.

Then we have Moveit Like Minnie and Norman Fletcher in the Betfair Hurdle (3.15pm). The former has been very good this season, but will probably get rather bogged down in the mud here, as he prefers drier conditions. He does have Finn Lambert’s five pounds to help him out, though. Norman Fletcher, though, could be a more likely candidate on the soft ground. He’s been running well, with two wins and two seconds this season, and should be ready to do his best work again here.

Clap Of Thunder runs in the Listed bumper (4.25pm). He’s run well in his two starts to date, both bumpers, and – while he hasn’t yet won a race – he’s a very nice young horse who is improving all the time. He’s for sale, if anyone is interested, and is due to go hurdling next season. Until then, he’ll stay in bumpers, with one of those valuable sales bumpers being the next target.

Sunday, Exeter

Josh The Boss starts us off in the 2m2½f novices’ hurdle (2.35pm).  He’s done nothing wrong this season so far, winning twice already. He was unlucky to unseat his rider last time at Sandown, and he’d been running a good race, so hopefully we can make up for that here. This is quite a hot race, but hopefully he can be competitive.

Then there’s Gowel Road in the 2m7f Pertemps handicap hurdle (3.35pm). The aim here is to qualify for the Pertemps at Cheltenham next month. Gowel Road is a very good horse, currently rated 143, and he should be more than capable of doing so. I hope he does himself proud here and then we’ll see him at the Festival in March.

Next is Kestrel Valley in the Listed mares’ chase (4.05pm). She’s run superbly so far, winning two races this season by over 20 lengths. Add the fact that she goes as well on soft ground as she does on better, and we’re hopeful! With the likes of Apple Away and Galia Des Liteaux in there, it won’t be an easy race to win, but I hope she will make her presence felt.

Our final runner of the weekend is Good Boy Bobby in the three-mile veterans’ chase (4.35pm). This is not quite as hot a race as his last appearance at Warwick, when he was well beaten, and he’s been going well at home, so we hope he can get back on track. He’s never been to Exeter before, but I can’t imagine that it won’t suit him.

Richard ‘Sparky’ Bevis

Everyone at the yard was delighted to see Richard ‘Sparky’ Bevis back home from hospital after his nasty accident. He’s not quite out of the woods yet and will have to go back into hospital for operations and further tests, but he’s coping remarkably well with the whole thing and we’re looking forward to seeing him in better sorts soon.