Gallops Report
African Gold prepared for a return to Newbury on Tuesday
By Gallops Reporter
Last Updated: 05/02/13 11:55am
Nigel Twiston-Davies is set to throw the cream of his improving and in-form younger horses at valuable Newbury targets on Saturday.
The trainer worked the said number, including course specialist AFRICAN GOLD, on his steep Fibresand facility at Naunton.
African Gold has been an impressive winner at Wetherby and twice at Newbury, where he may attempt to complete a four-timer in the three-mile handicap hurdle.
After watching African Gold glide happily up the strip, Twiston-Davies must decide whether to run that horse, fellow multiple scorer MASTER OF THE SEA or both in the same contest.
Master Of The Sea also seems at the top of his game following his triumphs at Hereford, Aintree and Wincanton, but has not been given quite the same treatment by the handicapper as his stablemate.
The stable could also be double-handed in the Game Spirit Chase as both ASTRACAD and PIGEON ISLAND could take their chance in what is essentially a trial for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Neither have the star quality to trouble the likes of top novice Simonsig, but Twiston-Davies was delighted with the way both worked up the hill the other day.
PURE SCIENCE is perhaps the trainer's best winning chance on Saturday when he defends a one-race unbeaten record in the bumper.
Bred to win a Derby, being by champion Flat sire Galileo out of a Group One-winning mare, Pure Science cruised to victory on his debut at Warwick and was made one of the favourites for the Champion Bumper at the Festival on the strength of that display.
He works as well as his pedigree suggests he might and will be hard to beat at Newbury.
Twiston-Davies may send some horses to Bangor on Friday and of that number TARA ROSE, MY BOY PADDY and IMPERIAL LEADER have all worked well and seem in good heart.