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Racing News |
Razor Royale & Knowhere On Course for Boylesports.com Gold Cup 27/11/09
After scooping the Thomas Pink Award for Leading Trainer at The Open earlier this month, Nigel Twiston-Davies is hoping for further Cheltenham glory with Razor Royale and Knowhere, who are both set to contest the £150,000 Grade Three Boylesports.com Gold Cup.
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The two miles and five furlong handicap chase is one of the two highlights of the second day of the Boylesports International, Saturday, December 12.
Razor Royale was one of three winners for the Naunton-based handler at The Open, posting a comprehensive 23-length success under Twiston-Davies’ 17-year-old son Sam in the extended three-mile Irish Times Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase on November 13.
The seven-year-old, who failed to fire on his seasonal return in a Listed handicap chase at Market Rasen on September 26, also boasts some good form over the smaller obstacles at Cheltenham, including when coming seventh in the Grade One Ballymore Novices Hurdle at the 2008 Festival and finishing a close fourth in the Grade Two Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at The Boylesports International in 2007.
While Razor Royale is still realising his potential over fences, 11-year-old Knowhere has already enjoyed numerous big race victories throughout his career, with the highlight being a six-length victory over Our Vic in the Grade Two Letheby And Christopher Chase at Cheltenham in January, 2008.
He was third in the 2007 Paddy Power Gold Cup and found only Exotic Dancer a length and a half too strong in the Boylesports.com Gold Cup in December, 2006.
Twiston-Davies revealed: “Razor Royale and Knowhere are both intended runners in the Boylesports.com Gold Cup at the moment. I was very pleased with the way Razor Royale won at The Open, especially with Sam on board, and I thought that both horse and jockey did very well.
“We were initially disappointed with his return at Market Rasen, but it turned out that he needed the run. I know that we are stepping down in trip but I don’t think that it will be a problem for him. Ideally, I am hoping that we get soft ground that will make it a real test for the horses.
“I haven’t had a real look at the entries and there might be something thrown in at the weights but I certainly think that he goes back to Cheltenham with a real chance.
“Knowhere was second in the Boylesports.com Gold Cup three years ago but he has gone up a fair bit in the weights since then. He was badly hampered on his latest start in the Paddy Power Gold Cup (November 14), but he came back fine and he seems in good form at the moment.
“He’s getting on a bit but he loves going round Cheltenham. Hopefully, with a clear run this time, he will be all right. “
A total of 45 horses have been entered for the Boylesports.com Gold Cup including Tranquil Sea, who may bid to follow up his comprehensive victory in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. Poquelin and Hold Em, who filled the places behind the Edward O’Grady-trained chaser, may also return to Cheltenham, while course and distance winners Atouchbetweenacara and Something Wells could make their seasonal returns in the race.
Weights for the Boylesports.com Gold Cup are revealed on Wednesday, December 2.
The two-day Boylesports International takes place at Cheltenham on Friday, December 11 and Saturday, December 12. Apart from the Grade Three Boylesports.com Gold Cup, Saturday’s card also features the £150,000 Grade Two Boylesports.com International, a leading trial for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, to which it is linked by a £200,000 bonus.
Highlight of the first day of the meeting is the £50,000 Listed Neptune Investment Management Handicap Chase, run over three miles, one and a half furlongs.
