Sam Twiston-Davies is first choice to ride the Sir Alex Ferguson part-owned Hitman in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, if as expected Harry Cobden sticks with Bravemansgame at Kempton.
Twiston-Davies won the King George for the former Manchester United manager in 2019 on Clan Des Obeaux, who Ferguson owns with Ged Mason and Paul Barber.
Hitman is one of three horses from the stable of champion trainer Paul Nicholls on target for the £250,000 Kempton showpiece, a race he has won 12 times.
He is set to saddle Bravemansgame, the sponsor’s 6-4 favourite, Hitman, a 3-1 chance, and Frodon (16-1), the 2020 King George winner who will be partnered by Bryony Frost if she recovers in time from a broken collarbone.
Peterborough Chase winner Pic D’Orhy will not contest the race and will instead wait for the Silviniaco Conti Chase in the new year, Nicholls told the Nick Luck Daily Podcast as he outlined likely riding plans.
“There is no point making a decision yet but it would be hard for Harry to get off Bravemansgame, but a lot can happen in a fortnight and we’ve got to make sure all the horses are right before you make a decision because you can get egg on your face if you make the wrong decision two weeks," he said. "We will make that decision at declaration time.
“Bryony, if she comes back, could ride Frodon, and I know Ged and Alex and co are keen for Sam Twiston-Davies to ride Hitman because he obviously won the King George for them on Clan Des Obeaux.
“If Bryony wasn’t about then we have Lorcan Williams in the wings to ride Frodon. That’s not set in stone, that’s a possibility.”
Bravemansgame secured big race favouritism when completing an impressive victory in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on his seasonal return, while Hitman won a graduation chase at Haydock on his second start. They will lead a formidable Nicholls team at Kempton over Christmas, also likely to include McFabulous in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase.
“Hitman is progressing all the time physically and mentally. He was good at Haydock the other day," Nicholls added. "It was a different type of race but he couldn’t have done anymore. We knew he would need his first run. He is six years old, rated 160, which was exactly what Clan Des Obeaux was when he won his first King George at six years old the first time. He is maturing.
“Bravemansgame won very nicely at Wetherby. We knew we’d left plenty to work on. He looks as well as I’ve ever seen him look and is going nicely. I am very happy with him.
“Frodon has come out of the Betfair Chase after winning at Wincanton where he had a hard race but still picked up some place money. He is a bit fresher now. I am happy with them all.”
