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Paul Nicholls believes topweight Twinjets has all of the right attributes to provide him with a record-extending tenth success in the BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup, despite a “hiccup” at Cheltenham last time.
The 14-time champion trainer won Newbury’s feature eight times between 2006 and 2016, but has not landed the prize since San Benedeto scored under Nick Scholfield in 2019.
He has come close in recent years, with Kandoo Kid finishing second to the Dan Skelton-trained Heltenham two years ago, while Tamaroc Du Mathan occupied the same position behind Paint The Dream in 2022.
Twinjets has won eight of his 18 starts and carries 12st following victories at Fontwell and Newbury this season. He has to defy a career-high mark of 148, but his trainer believed he was capable of winning off it at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day before he unseated Harry Cobden at the seventh and he has carefully laid out the nine-year-old for this £80,000 prize.
“He had a hiccup at Cheltenham last time when I thought he was going to go well,” Nicholls said. “He likes Newbury and has a chance. Good to soft going is fine, but if it dried up a bit that would be even better for him.”
What they say
Gary Moore, joint-trainer of Blow Your Wad
He ran quite a nice race on his first start for us at Ascot. The handicapper put him up 2lb, which is annoying, but I think he goes there with a chance. I’m hoping for nice ground. He wouldn’t want it to get too soft. We’re still learning about him, but he could well be a horse who does well in the spring.
Tom Symonds, trainer of Issam
I’ve been very happy with him since his win at Kempton. This always looked the natural next target where the ground would hopefully be in his favour. We’re going up in grade, but I’m thrilled to get Callum Pritchard and his 3lb claim. I feel Issam could still be a tad unexposed. He never did much in front until Kempton, where he really stretched out towards the finish. His Ascot run was disappointing at the time but that form has worked out very well.
Sam Thomas, trainer of Vincenzo
He’s been amazing for us all season and let’s hope there’s another big performance in him. He did everything wrong at Ascot last time but still won. He jumped repeatedly out to the left and never looked like winning until he had crossed the line. I expect him to be a fair bit better going left-handed at Newbury. We have the option of Cheltenham, but I feel this is a more winnable race. If he was to win, it would probably be his last run of the season.
Vincenzo: expected to appreciate switch back to a left-handed trackCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
Dan Skelton, trainer of Heltenham
He won the race two years ago. Hopefully, the ground will have a bit of juice in it. He has a chance.
Willy Twiston-Davies, joint-trainer of Josh The Boss
Running again after seven days is a slight concern but he did a canter and a sprint on Friday and the girl who rides him every day said he felt in great form. It’s a very good pot and he’s quite unexposed. He still looks on a fair mark.
Olly Murphy, trainer of Pleasington
He was very disappointing at Wetherby. I probably ran him too soon after Newbury. He’s been inconsistent but on his best form would have an each-way chance.
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