Nigel Twiston-Davies: Welsh National should be right up Fantastikas’ street

Leading National Hunt trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies previews his runners over the Festive period:

The King George looks a cracker, and it looks more open this year than in some previous years.

You go down the list and there’s probably five or six that have got obvious claims, though I’ve not got a runner, so I haven’t studied it inside out!

I’ll be cheering on Hitman with Sam [Twiston-Davies] riding. I know he’s delighted to have got the ride and he looks to have a great chance.

Boxing Day runners:

My focus is on Huntingdon and Market Rasen on Boxing Day, and I think we’ve got some strong chances across both cards.

Moveit Like Minnie (1:47pm) kept on well to win at Taunton last time out and we think she must have every chance of going in again.

Then we’ve got Supasunrise (2:57pm), who ran well first time over fences at Market Rasen. Hopefully he’ll have learnt a bit from that and can take another step forward.

Safe Destination (1:05pm) kicks us off at Market Rasen. He’s been in some pretty hot races and hasn’t run too badly, so we’d like to think he can make an impact off his opening handicap mark.

Sergeant Wilson (2:15pm) also runs for the first time in a handicap off a mark of 113, which I think is probably quite kind. He’s a horse we’ve always liked at home and we’re really looking forward to running him. Hopefully, he settles well and sees out the extra two furlongs well.

Topofthecotswolds 2:50pm) is going for the Lincolnshire National over 3m3f, which is a stamina-testing trip, but we think he’s settling better now and should see it out well. He finished strongly at Doncaster last time over an inadequate 2m4f, so if he settles well we think he should run really well.

Dasher (3:25pm) is out for the first time. He works nicely at home and is out of the same top sire as Sergeant Wilson, Soldier Of Fortune, so hopefully he can show something.

On the 27th, we’re looking forward to running Fantastikas in the Welsh National (2:50pm). We were very disappointed with his last two runs, but he’s in great form at home and hope he can bounce back.

The challenge of a Welsh National should be right up his street.

If it carries on raining, Wholestone could run in the handicap hurdle (2:10pm). If it’s soft, he’s very good. He’s run well in two good races so far this season and is a lovely horse.