Nigel Twiston-Davies praised the decision-making skills of long serving owner Fred Mills after Moveit Like Minnie (11-4 Favourite) scooped the biggest pot of his career in the RhinoBet Michaelmas Handicap Hurdle at Huntingdon on Tuesday.
Appearing to appreciate the drop back to two miles at Ludlow last time out, the Libertarian gelding followed up that success over the same trip when making it two wins from four appearances at the Cambridgeshire track with a four-length success under Sam Twiston-Davies.
The winning trainer said: “We learnt he needs two miles. He was always fading at the last over further and he doesn’t anymore. That was brilliant and we are chuffed to bits.
“The owner said we are getting something wrong and that we needed to go shorter and he was absolutely right.
“We will be sensible and look around. The reason we are here is because of the prize money. I hope we can put him in a good handicap hurdle at some point.
“He does need better ground and the Betfair Hurdle is usually on softer ground, but we will look at a better handicap now.”
Following the race Twiston-Davies issued an upbeat report on Torn And Frayed, who will bid to give the Naunton handler a fifth win in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday.
Twiston-Davies said: “Torn And Frayed is in great form. He has jumped well in schooling and everything is fine with him. We’ve won it quite a few times and hopefully we can do it again.
“It is big race to comeback in after such a long break, but there is no point going back up the handicap before it. There wasn’t enough time to potentially give him a spin over hurdles beforehand either.
“It was frustrating having him out, but he is back and in good form.”
There was further success for the Twiston-Davies father and son team after Dameofthecotswolds (11-2) enhanced her sale value when flooring 6-4 favourite Love Tree by two- and three-quarter lengths in the RhinoBet Fillies’ “Junior” National Hunt Flat Race.
The winning trainer, who also owns the three-year-old, said: “This one is very much for sale. She ran very green last time which was surprising as she is so straightforward at home. Today she was much better.
“She stayed with the favourite, who beat her last time, and then went away when she was asked to. We will probably look at some of those junior hurdle races now as she jumps beautifully.”
Jamie Snowden believes that things are ‘beginning to click’ for Regarde, who completed doubles for both the Lambourn handler and winning jockey Gavin Sheehan when running out a two- and three-quarter length winner of the RhinoBet Novices’ Handicap Chase.
Snowden said of the successful 8-11 Favourite: “The drop back in two and a half miles from three miles was a slight concern. He jumped really well, and he probably jumped better than last time. Hopefully things are beginning to click.
“I think we will go back up in trip as we got away with it here. He went up six pounds for his last win and he will go up again in the weights so we will have to go up in class. Fingers crossed he can cope with it.”
The pair had earlier teamed up to win the RhinoBet Selling Handicap Hurdle with Goose Man (5-1).
