Nigel Twiston-Davies knows what it takes to win the Coral Welsh Grand National and may be doubled-handed in his bid to capture it again next week.
The prominent trainer, who is based near Cheltenham, first struck in the Chepstow showpiece in 1997 with Earth Summit, who went on to win the Grand National at Aintree three months later.
Bindaree, his Aintree hero in 2002, added the Welsh National to his CV the following year and Twiston-Davies has Top Of The Bill and Uncle Bert engaged this time round.
He now trains in partnership with son Willy, who said: “Top Of The Bill also has the option of running in the Tommy Whittle at Haydock on Saturday, but we’ll discuss things with the owner. He’s in very good form and won nicely at Haydock last time. He stays well and goes on all sorts of ground, while he seems to be thriving.
"You’d hope the Welsh National would suit him. There's no reason why it wouldn’t and I think he’s come of age recently. He seems to be in a really good place. He’s gone up a lot in the handicap for his last win, but he should have because he was so impressive. He’s a very nice horse with a touch of class and has all the credentials to go very close if he runs.”
Top Of The Bill is a general 20-1 for the Welsh National, which takes place on Saturday week.
Of 16-1 chance Uncle Bert, Twiston-Davies added: “It’s on the agenda, but a lot will depend on what sort of ground it will be at Chepstow. He won over two miles and four furlongs the other day and has always been a good stayer over three miles, but it’s just whether three miles and six and a half furlongs on bottomless ground is the right thing to do. That’s got to come into consideration, but his last performance was a career-best. We’ve tweaked a few things with him and that was the best I’ve seen him jump. We think we’ve got him sussed out now and you’d like to think he’d have a great chance if he turned up.”
Worth £170,000, the Welsh National is one of the highlights of the Christmas period and Twiston-Davies went on: “I remember Dad winning the race and it would be very special to win it again. It’s worth a lot of money, which is one thing, but it’s a massive race beyond that, so let’s hope we’re involved. Our two are similar prices and have similar profiles, and it wouldn’t be hard to fancy either on the day.”
Tickets and hospitality for Welsh National day are still available, purchase here.
