Twiston-Davies brings strong squad to Perth

Published on Thursday 21 September 2006 01:21

MAYBE it's something they put in the water before they put it in the whisky at Perth, but for a man with a reputation for treating every word as a prisoner, Nigel Twiston-Davies can almost approach blether proportions when he has a winner there.

NTD, who once famously told the institution that is Des Lynam that he "didn't do interviews" after saddling Earth Summit to win the Grand National, never hits the mute button at Scone Palace, and today's card could offer him several opportunities to wax lyrical.

The pick of his strong squad is Billyandi, who hasn't been seen since finishing third behind Lennon over course and distance in April, but who should be well suited by conditions.

Another Superman, has yet to live up to his name, but he could still be good enough to take the Stronachs Novices' Handicap Hurdle, while Gone Too Far can add to Peter Monteith's recent good run of form, a run that was continued on yesterday's card by Touch Or Ivory.

It was far from being all good news for the Rosewell trainer, however, as he was fined 3,000 under the non-triers' rule for the running of Go Commercial in the opener, jockey Timmy Murphy being suspended for 14 days and the horse banned from running for 40 days.

Millennium Hall and Catch The Perk completed a 59-1 double for Milnathort handler Lucinda Russell, while Peter Niven completed a good afternoon for the natives when Nabir got up late on to mug Heart Of West on the line.

Further afield, Ruby Walsh landed his third consecutive Guinness Kerry National when he guided 10-1 shot Bothar Na home two lengths clear of Pearly Jack for Willie Mullins at Listowel yesterday.

There's not quite enough confidence behind anything at this afternoon's meeting to justify the nap, so that anchor goes on Ladino at Fontwell. Richard Johnson's mount has let down favourite backers on his last couple of outings, but he can do them a turn here.