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Betfred Grand Sefton Handicap Chase 2012 |
Little Josh Takes Grand Sefton
08/12/12
1 Little Josh 7/2F
2 Gansey 5/1
3 Tranquil Sea 9/1
NR: Rebel Du Maquis (FR)
9 ran Distances: 1¾l, 19l, 87l
TIME 6m 0.90s (slow by 39.90s)
There was a famous 71/1 double for Nigel Twiston-Davies and his jockey son Sam in the two races over the Grand National fences at Aintree today, with 14/1 chance and 14-year-old Hello Bud winning the £110,000 Betfred Becher Handicap Chase and 10-year-old and 7/2 favourite Little Josh taking the £60,000 Betfred 'Goals Galore' Grand Sefton Handicap Chase.
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Twiston-Davies senior has now won all five races over the Grand National fences.
Sam said: "Little Josh is a bit different to Hello Bud. He was quite keen early on and he was using up far too much petrol. When I got headed, I tried not to panic and thought that it was a long way from home and I didn't need to be kicking on so far out.
"I wanted to go from A to B as quick as a I could and try and go a gallop that I could maintain. He was legless up the run-in but he kept pulling out that little bit more.
"I have been very lucky to ride two spectacular jumpers over these fences today. Hello Bud is a master of going in and popping over them, while Little Josh is very exuberant and very bold.
"In my opinion, the fences are riding well - the horses are respecting them and the jockeys are too. You can't go too fast because you will end up doing yourself some damage. Little Josh was a bit keen early on but he soon learnt that you can't go that quick and get round."
Betfred 'Goals Galore' Grand Sefton Handicap Chase
£60,000 added, 6yo plus, 2m 5f 110y, Class 2
9 ran
Going: Soft (Good to Soft in places, National Heavy)
| Position |
Horse Trainer |
Jockey Weight |
Starting Price Beaten Distance |
| 1 |
Little Josh N A Twiston-Davies |
S Twiston-Davies 10st 9lbs |
7 - 2 Winner |
| 2 |
Gansey Mrs S J Smith |
Ryan Mania 10st 0lbs |
5 - 1 1 3/4 length |
| 3 |
Tranquil Sea E J O'Grady |
R Thornton 11st 7lbs |
9 - 1 19 lengths |
| 4 |
Nacarat T R George |
P J Brennan 11st 12lbs |
7 - 1 87 lengths |
| Fell |
Chance Du Roy P J Hobbs |
T J O'Brien 11st 2lbs |
9 - 2 |
| PulledUp |
Carrickboy Miss V Williams |
Aidan Coleman 10st 0lbs |
4 - 1 |
| UnseatedRider |
Rio Gael P Bowen |
J E Moore 10st 0lbs |
28 - 1 |
| Fell |
Blackstaff Nick Williams |
M J Quinlan 10st 0lbs |
9 - 1 |
| PulledUp |
Cerium N B King |
Brian Harding 10st 0lbs |
50 - 1 |
| NonRunner |
Rebel Du Maquis P F Nicholls |
D A Jacob 10st 8lbs |
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NO AGEISM SAYS TRAINER OF THE DAY
Winning trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies said: "This was Little Josh's first run of the season and he has rewarded us beautifully.
"This has always been the plan. We had considered at the BetVictor Gold Cup but that looked hot so we decided to target this race as he jumps so well.
"He will come back in April but he is not actually allowed to run in the Grand National until he is placed over three miles.
"So we may try and run him a three-mile race and then go to the Grand National. This is just incredible, extraordinary - just what jumping is all about - real dreams. We bring a 14-year-old horse, Hello Bud, here and a younger horse, Little Josh, and they both win. It has been lovely.
"Aintree is just a challenge - the whole place is special - Liverpudlians are great and we love coming up here. We are so well looked after and the track is great too.
"Our horses are well schooled at home and luckily I have a very good jockey (Sam)."
He is planning to enter both Hello Bud and Littler Josh in the John Smith's Grand National, plus his stable star, Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander.
He explained: "If Imperial Commander shows he isn't quite as good as he was, then the National is the obvious thing. But we are hoping he is as good as he was. I have not spoken to his owners about the National yet. Imperial Commander is on the horse walker and swimming at the moment.
"Hello Bud is as good as ever and he is nearly 15 so why cannot Imperial Commander be as good at 11. There is too much ageism."
