William Hill Handicap Hurdle
Grade 3 Handicap, Newbury
£155,000 guaranteed,
4yo plus,
2m 69y, Class 1  
Saturday 7th February 2026

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Un Sens A La Vie has put himself firmly back on the radar, and the Twiston-Davies team are now leaning towards a crack at the William Hill Hurdle after his emphatic return to winning form at Ludlow.

He made a bright start to his hurdling career when successful on debut at Market Rasen in October, but defeats on his next two outings briefly halted the momentum. Time has been kind to that form, however, and he underlined his ability in no uncertain terms last time, quickening away from his rivals to score with something to spare.

That fourth run over hurdles leaves him well placed for a potential trip to Newbury on February 7, a race the Naunton yard know well, having lifted the prize three times since 2014.

“I’m nearly certain we’ll go for the William Hill Hurdle, it could depend when the early entries come on ratings and such,” explained Willy Twiston-Davies, who trains in partnership with his father Nigel.

“Off his current mark – and he might even go up for collateral because of the horse of Nicky Henderson, Old Park Star – he would get in the last few years, but you never know what could happen until those entries come in.

“We’ve won it with Splash Of Ginge and Ballyandy and they have both won and lost on the way to doing it. He shows every bit as much class as both of those two so you would hope he would go there with a very good chance.”

There was understandable frustration when Un Sens A La Vie went down for a second time to Old Park Star at Kempton last month, but subsequent events have cast that effort in a much more positive light. Old Park Star’s devastating victory at Cheltenham has propelled him towards the head of the ante-post markets for novice races at the Festival, and in that context, Un Sens A La Vie’s brave defeat while conceding weight reads extremely well.

Twiston-Davies added: “We were giving Old Park Star 6lb and he beat us three lengths at Kempton and the initial reaction was disappointment we didn’t win, but that form boost at Cheltenham has been well received.

“I think we’ll see the best of him when they go a really strong gallop, he took a bit of a grip that day at Kempton. The faster they go the better he’ll be and he’s definitely talented.

“We’ll be staying at two miles and he shows buckets of pace at home. Sam (Twiston-Davies) went steady enough on him at Ludlow and he just sprinted clear from the back of the last and looked impressive doing it.

“I think two miles, a sound surface and a flat track where they go a good gallop is right up his street and I was kicking myself after he ran at Cheltenham thinking I ran him too soon, but actually I just think he wants a flat two miles like he will get at Newbury.”

With the pieces starting to fall into place, Un Sens A La Vie now looks a horse very much on an upward curve, and Newbury could provide the ideal stage for him to show just how far he can go.

BoyleSports

Newbury Handicap Hurdle (Handicap) (Grade 3)
£155,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 69y, Class 1
entries
Going:

 

The Betfair Hurdle – Roll of Honour

YEAR WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY AGE/WEIGHT SP RAN

2025 JOYEUSE Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 6 10-7 9/2 17
2024 IBERICO LORD Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 6 11-8 11/2 21
2023 AUCUNRISQUE Chris Gordon Nick Scholfield 7 11-4 9/1 16
2022 GLORY AND FORTUNE Tom Lacey Stan Sheppard 7 11-8 20/1 14
2021 SOARING GLORY Jonjo O'Neill Jonjo O'Neill Jr 6-10-07 17/2 23
2020 PIC D'ORHY Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 05-11-05 33/1 24
2019 AL DANCER Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies 06-11-08 5/2F 14
2018 KALASHNIKOV Miss Amy Murphy Jack Quinlan 05-11-05 8/1C 24
2017 BALLYANDY Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies 06-11-01 3/1F 16
2016 AGRAPART Nick Williams Lizzie Kelly 05-10-05 16/1 22
2015 VIOLET DANCER Gary Moore Joshua Moore 05-10-09 20/1 23
2014 SPLASH OF GINGE Nigel Twiston-Davies Ryan Hatch 06-10-03 33/1 20
2013 MY TENT OR YOURS Nicky Henderson A P McCoy 06-11-02 5/1F 21
2012 ZARKANDAR Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh 05-11-01 11/4F 20
2011 RECESSION PROOF John Quinn Dougie Costello 05-10-08 12/1 15
2010 GET ME OUT OF HERE Jonjo O'Neill A P McCoy 06-10-06 6/1 23
2009 Abandoned - Snow
2008 WINGMAN Gary Moore Jamie Moore 06-10-00 14/1 24
2007 HEATHCOTE Gary Moore Jamie Moore 05-10-06 50/1 20
2006 Abandoned - Frost
2005 ESSEX Michael O'Brien IRE Barry Geraghty 05-11-06 4/1F 25
2004 GEOS Nicky Henderson Marcus Foley 09-10-09 16/1 25
2003 SPIRIT LEADER Jessica Harrington IRE Norman Williamson 07-10-00 14/1 27
2002 COPELAND Martin Pipe A P McCoy 07-11-07 13/2 16
2001 LANDING LIGHT Nicky Henderson Mick Fitzgerald 06-10-02 4/1F 20
2000 GEOS Nicky Henderson Mick Fitzgerald 05-11-03 15/2 17
1999 DECOUPAGE Charles Egerton Jimmy McCarthy 07-11-00 6/1 18
1998 SHARPICAL Nicky Henderson Mick Fitzgerald 06-11-01 10/1 14
1997 MAKE A STAND Martin Pipe Chris Maude 06-11-07 6/1 18
1996 SQUIRE SILK Andy Turnell Paul Carberry 07-10-12 13/2 18
1995 MYSILV Charles Egerton Jamie Osborne 05-10-08 9/4F 8
1994 LARGE ACTION Oliver Sherwood Jamie Osborne 06-10-08 9/2 11
1993 KING CREDO Steve Woodman Adrian Maguire 08-10-00 10/1 16
1992 RODEO STAR Nigel Tinkler Graham McCourt 06-10-10 15/2 15
1991 Abandoned - Frost
1990 DEEP SENSATION Josh Gifford Richard Rowe 05-11-03 7/1 17
1989 GREY SALUTE John Jenkins Richard Dunwoody 06-11-05 8/1 10
1988 JAMESMEAD David Elsworth Brendan Powell 07-10-00 11/1 19
1987 NEBLIN Toby Balding Stan Moore 08-10-00 10/1 21
1986 Abandoned – Snow
1985 Abandoned – Snow
1984 RA NOVA Nan Kennedy Paddy Farrell 05-10-06 16/1 26
1983 Abandoned - Snow & Frost
1982 DONEGAL PRINCE Paul Kelleway John Francome 06-10-08 13/1 27
1981 Abandoned – Waterlogged
1980 BOOTLACES David Barons Paul Leach 06-10-09 20/1 21
1979 WITHIN THE LAW Peter Easterby Alan Brown 05-11-04 25/1 28
1978 Abandoned – Frost
1977 TRUE LAD Bill Swainson Tommy Stack 07-10-04 14/1 27
1976 IRISH FASHION Michael Cunningham IRE Ron Barry 05-10-04 16/1 29
1975 TAMMUZ Fulke Walwyn Bill Smith 07-10-13 18/1 28
1974 Abandoned – Waterlogged
1973 INDIANAPOLIS John Sutcliffe snr Jeff King 06-10-06 15/2 26
1972 GOOD REVIEW Jim Dreaper IRE Val O'Brien 06-10-09 8/1 26
1971 CALA MESQUIDA John Sutcliffe snr John Cook 07-10-09 33/1 23
1970 Abandoned - Snow & Frost
1969 Abandoned - Frost
1968 PERSIAN WAR Colin Davies Jimmy Uttley 05-11-13 9/2F 33
1967 HILL HOUSE Ryan Price Josh Gifford 07-10-10 9/1 28
1966 LE VERMONTOIS Ryan Price Josh Gifford 05-11-03 15/2 28
1965 ELAN John Sutcliffe jnr David Nicholson 06-10-07 9/2F 21
1964 ROSYTH Ryan Price Josh Gifford 06-10-02 10/1 24
1963 ROSYTH Ryan Price Josh Gifford 05-10-00 20/1 41