Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports Willy Twiston-Davies (prior to news he would not make the 2026 Festival ) that he'd run Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle but acknowledged the difficult decision for the team.
The former jockey spoke also spoke about the rise of the British Novice Racing scene and tips Old Park Star for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and that Lulamba can match Kopek Des Bordes in the Arkle.
Willy also argued that The New Lion must improve for "wide-open" Champion Hurdle and reveals that Aintree is the next date for Potters Charm.
Constitution Hill
“I’d Run Constitution Hill In Champion Hurdle
He’s an absolutely magnificent horse, and you can see the dilemma Nicky Henderson is in. On the one hand, the horse is bred to race. If I owned him personally, you'd obviously love to chance him and run him. But on the other hand, if anything were to happen, you wouldn't be able to forgive yourself on the back of what he's done so far.
I do feel sorry for Nicky because he's going to be asked the question so many times, and it is a very sticky wicket whether you run or whether you don't run. He could run and win, but if he runs and falls and something happens, it’s a tough one for Nicky .
There's a very fine line of what's wrong or right there, and I wouldn't want to be making the decision myself. It's very different if you own the horse yourself and you can live with it. But when it's Michael Buckley's and the public sort of feels like they own a part of him, it's much harder to make those sorts of decisions. If Dad or I owned the horse, you’d probably say, ‘B*****’ it, let's run it.’
Horses to Watch
The Rise of Britain’s Novice Horses
Yes. I sat down with Ged Mason , Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls a month or two ago, and we were all pretty much in agreement that the quality of British novices has definitely risen.
Last year, you could run a 110-rated horse in a maiden hurdle, and you'd be a very short price favourite. Now you have to run to around the 120 mark to be winning your maidens and novices, which I think is a very good sign. There are plenty of horses rated in the 140s, late 130s. I do think the tide is hopefully turning.
This time last year, I dread to think how many odds-on shots Willie Mullins had. And at this current stage of the year, there isn’t one. So, it's very interesting. The numbers and qualities of horses in Britain seem to be rising. Olly Murphy's obviously getting a much healthier, larger string. Dan's got a massive string. Ben Pauling’s doing well. Paul Nicholls is still doing very well. Nicky Henderson's got a lot of quality. I think everyone's raising the bar as best they can.
Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Old Park Star For The Supreme
El Cairos was obviously very impressive in a maiden hurdle. He's the one who needs to improve far more than the others. I thought Talk the Talk won very well from an awkward position at the DRF. But you can't help but be blown away by Old Park Star.
He just gives me the old Henderson vibes of his previous great winners. He actually beat Un Sens a la Vie at Kempton . We were second. I couldn't believe we got beaten. It turns out we got beat by the Supreme favourite, so you can’t knock that! The way he went ahead and put them to bed was seriously impressive. I think if you're any trainer in England or Ireland, if you can have Old Park Star going into that race, you'd be pretty confident.
Arkle
Lulamba Can Match Kopek Des Bordes in Arkle
Romeo Coolio needs a trip. I think two miles around Cheltenham , he will be on the back foot a bit too much. Lulamba , you couldn't really fault. They tried to do everything to get him beat in the Game Spirit , a tried and tested route which Nicky has followed before with Sprinter Sacre and Altior.
I thought he looked very classy, he powered away at the line, and he's improving all the time. He's still a very young horse; I wouldn't be able to see past him. Kopek des Bordes is going into the Arkle with only one run, but if anyone can do it, it's definitely Willie Mullins . But Lulamba's preparation just looks far more straightforward, and he looks as if he's got just as much class, if not more than Kopek .
Champion Hurdle
The New Lion Must Improve For Wide-Open Champion Hurdle
The New Lion is rated 159, our horse Potter’s Charm is 154. So, we'd have five pounds to find. If you finish in the top four, you get more than your money back if you were to supplement. That was why we were tossing and turning about possibly having him in the race.
With Brighterdaysahead , is there a reason why she hasn't turned up at Cheltenham's the last two years? Lossiemouth , I'd imagine, would go for the Mares . Golden Ace , you can't knock at all. She’s obviously only rated 152, but she’d get the 7lb allowance, which all of a sudden makes you wonder.
It's a wide-open Champion Hurdle. Dan Skelton is very bullish about The New Lion . But on ratings and that Cheltenham , there is an awful lot of improvement needed to win a Champion Hurdle .
Aintree Next For Potters Charm
Potter's Charm made it a good double at the Winter Millions , which is obviously very important. We picked up a lot of good prize money. I’m pretty sure it’s going to be Aintree now. Doubt we’ll go to the Champion Hurdle . Aintree is the one for us to concentrate on.
Top of the Bill won a nice race and was second again. He picked up some good prize money in the Grand National Trial , and the novices have done well. This was always going to be very much a building season.
The one slight disappointment was getting heavy ground at Newbury when Un Sens A La Vie , because he travelled through the race like the best horse in it, apart from the winner! I don't think we got to see him at his best, but hopefully there'll be some brighter days for him with some nicer ground in the spring.
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