Sam Twiston-Davies’ William Hill Blog: Unbeaten Roscahill aims to extend streak at Ffos Las

William Hill ambassador Sam Twiston-Davies gives updates on key horses and previews his rides on Saturday at Ffos Las.

The past week has been a quiet one for racing in the UK, with the weather bringing many meetings to a halt. It’s not unusual for this time of year, though, and most jockeys and trainers are well-accustomed to the disruptions these cold periods bring.

As I mentioned in my last blog, I took the opportunity last Friday morning to visit James Owen’s yard and spend some time with East India Dock. Despite the cold, he felt fantastic during our canters. While we didn’t do any schooling due to the conditions, it was great to get a feel for how well he’s going.

Broadway Boy, unfortunately, didn’t return quite himself after his last run at Cheltenham. He’s on a quieter schedule for now, and the same goes for Potters Charm, who’s looking in great shape but taking things easy for the moment. With Potters Charm not set to run until March, it’s all about keeping him ticking over in the meantime.

Thankfully, Ffos Las has stepped in to rescue this weekend’s racing plans. Originally, I was set to ride at Kempton, but I’m now looking forward to two exciting rides at Ffos Las instead. The upcoming week also looks like it could be quite busy, which will be a nice change of pace after this quiet spell.

It’s encouraging to see some high-quality racing upcoming next Friday at Market Rasen too. Those fixtures are something to look forward to, and it’s always good to have quality races in the calendar during this period.

Ffos Las, Saturday

First up is Hillcrest (1.15pm) in the Towton. He made a strong return to the track with a solid fourth-place finish in a competitive handicap chase at Haydock. He jumped well throughout but a small mistake three out meant he had to settle for fourth. Still, it was a positive comeback performance.

Last time out, he just didn’t quite bring his A-game. He was behind the bridle for much of the race, with a few slower jumps in the middle section. There came a point where pushing on—after all the patience and effort that had gone into getting him back—just didn’t feel right. I made the decision to pull him up and save him for another day.

This time, we’re hopeful that the shorter trip at will play to his strengths. Fingers crossed he’ll show more of his true ability and delivers a strong performance.

My second ride of the day is Rosscahill (2.58pm). He’s coming off an excellent win last time out, proving his quality as a real out-and-out galloper. Unbeaten so far, he’s clearly a horse with serious potential and will be a horse to go over fences next season.

What’s exciting about Rosscahill is his strong attitude. He handles heavy ground exceptionally well, so the current conditions will prove no difficulty, and Saturday’s trip should suit him perfectly. He does have a unique leg action—it’s a bit different—but it hasn’t slowed him down one bit. Hopefully, we can extend his unbeaten record at Ffos Las on Saturday.