NAUNTON trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies enjoyed a spectacular half-hour on Saturday, claiming two top class races in different parts of the country.

Both winners – Bristol De Mai and Blaklion – are on his short list for the Cheltenham Festival next month and it bodes well that the Gloucestershire team are in such good form approaching the big meeting.

Bristol De Mai, considered one of the most natural jumpers ever to go through Twiston-Davies’ hands, showcased his burgeoning talents with victory in the Grade One Betfred TV Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown.

The Twiston-Davies-trained runner, who had won at this level over hurdles, dictated matters from the outset with a near-foot-perfect round of jumping on his way to claiming his biggest success over fences to date.

He is well on course for the JLT Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival for which he was cut to 6-1 by both William Hill and Paddy Power, from 10s and 8s respectively.

Although both As De Mee and Tea For Two ranged up as serious dangers entering the final stages, a superb jump over the third-last by the well-backed 10-11 favourite saw him take a couple of lengths out of the pair.

Meeting the last two fences perfectly the grey clinched an impressive six-length success from As De Mee, with Tea For Two a further length back in third.

It was a third Scilly Isles triumph for the trainer who had won it previously with Young Hustler and Jack Doyle.

Joint owner Simon Munir said: "Bristol De Mai has had a good grounding and to be fair to Nigel Twiston-Davies he just keeps improving with every run.

"Nigel encouraged us to give him another run before Cheltenham and we are glad that we did.

"The JLT will now be his target. I think he is better on heavy ground as it is more of an inconvenience to other horses than him, but if you look at his run at Aintree in the four-year-old hurdle that was on good ground."

Twiston Davies’ son Sam enjoyed his own big-race success when Connetable took advantage of the failings of Champion Hurdle contender Peace And Co in the Listed Betfred Contenders Hurdle.

Connetable was shortened into 10-1 for the Triumph Hurdle from 33s by William Hill.

Meanwhile, up at Wetherby, Twiston-Davies senior was enjoying another fine success when Blaklion confirmed his Festival credentials with a gritty display in the Grade Two totepool Towton Novices' Chase.

In stamina-sapping conditions some classy animals such as Bitofapuzzle and Native River were beaten before the top of the straight as Definitly Red pushed on.

Ryan Hatch on Blaklion never let him get too far in front, though, and his mount jumped nimbly to pull eight lengths clear of Definitly Red.

"Ryan rode a lovely race on him," said Twiston-Davies' assistant Carl Llewellyn.

"That took some getting today in those conditions and he's not very big, but he jumped really well.

"He's clever, since he fell at Cheltenham he's barely touched a twig.

"The thinking before today was the RSA and I don't see why that should change now."

Paddy Power cut the winner to 12-1 from 16s for the RSA.