Nigel Twiston-Davies rates Ballyandy the best of his clutch of young stars

Nigel Twiston-Davies rates Ballyandy the best of his clutch of young stars as he looks to open his hurdling account at Cheltenham's next meeting.

The 2016 Champion Bumper winner is being prepared for the two mile SkyBet Supreme Trial Sharp Novices´ Hurdle on November 13, when the trainer's son Sam should be back from injury to ride him.

Second to Moon Racer on hurdling debut, a horse who jointly heads the betting for The Festival version of next month's race, Ballyandy has always been held in high regard with Twiston-Davies.

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After Wholestone's success at The Showcase meeting, he said he believes the Options O Syndicate's five-year-old is the best of his young horses and he can show that at The Open.

"The 2m hurdle at Cheltenham's next meeting is the race we will look at for Ballyandy," he said.

"He's good, all fine, I'm hoping he will do well there."

Highly progressive hurdler Ballyoptic and last season's RSA winner Blaklion have Wetherby assignments on Saturday, but the latter will only go if the ground is not too fast.

The Naunton team are also minding The New One until it rains for the same connections as the latter.

"Ballyoptic is really, really good," Twiston-Davies continued.

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"It's lovely to have lots of nice young horses.

"Blaklion is ready for his race but if the ground is too quick he won't go.

"With The New One we are still waiting for rain. We thought all the hurdle races were looking quite hot so we'd send him chasing. It's another string to our bow.
"He schools beautifully."