3 minute read

Hawkes Point proved another big Saturday winner for Paul Nicholls and Sam Twiston-Davies in the Betfred Classic Chase at Warwick.

Shotgun Paddy, who was pulled up early on in the Welsh National last time, made a valiant bid in the marathon contest under his big weight, racing prominently from flag-fall and assuming the lead to take the field out for the second circuit as he attempted back-to-back victories in the race.

A bad mistake three out did nothing to help his chance and Hawkes Point, who also disappointed at Chepstow but had blinkers on for the first time, took advantage to lead with two to jump and in receipt of plenty of weight, made that count.

Twiston-Davies booted the 15-2 winner to a two-and-a-quarter-length victory from the staying-on Theatrical Star, with the gallant Shotgun Paddy another two lengths back in third.

The jockey said: "The blinkers really helped. He was slow out of the gate, but he was very good when he needed to be. I asked him a lot of big questions a long way out, knowing that he would keep going and like the ground.

"Days like this are amazing, they don't come along very often and it's great when you ride a horse like this who wants to do it and wants to jump. The headgear just helped him make his mind up, but he's a good spin."

Colin Tizzard said of runner-up Theatrical Star: "He looked a thorough stayer there. Coming off the bend the other two were going better but he's run on all the way to the line.

"We'll give him an entry in the Grand National. He's on 137 and he might go up a couple of pounds. He'd get in off 139, I'd have thought.

"I've had three seconds today so I'm not too chuffed, but he's run a smashing race and I couldn't ask for anything more."