Twiston-Davies eyes France trip after Ascot Gold Cup flop

Nigel Twiston-Davies has confirmed that five-time hurdles winner Earlofthecotswolds will make his return to action in a couple of months, with the training seeking suitable ground.

A revelation since being switched to the flat, the eight-year-old chalked up three wins on all-weather surfaces in the spring, including the valuable All-Weather Marathon Championships Conditions Stakes at Newcastle in April.

That early success prompted an audacious tilt at the Gold Cup at Ascot for the gelded son of Axxos.

However, having helped set the pace, he was headed and weakened from three furlongs out and finished last of the nine runners behind Kyprios.

Twiston-Davies, whose stables are in Naunton, is hoping to bring back Earlofthecotswolds once the ground eases.

He said: “We have been very pleased with him. At Ascot, the ground was too firm.

“We’ll probably look at France next, I don’t know. We’ll look for softer ground out there and are looking at August time for his return, I would suppose.”

Kyprios and Ryan Moore coming home to win the Gold Cup during day three of Royal Ascot. Picture: PA Wire

It was the Aidan O'Brien-trained Kyprios ridden by Ryan Moore who crossed the line first in the Gold Cup earlier this month.

Alongside Earlofthecotswolds, the 13-8 favourite saw off competition from the likes of Mojo Star, Princess Zoe, and three-time winner Stradivarius, ridden by Frankie Dettori.

“We’re delighted with him, Ryan gave him a great ride,” said O’Brien, who was landing the historic race for the eighth time.

On what might await for the rest of the season, O’Brien said: “He looks after himself and they are all the things that he will need.

"He could go to Goodwood next or something like the Irish St Leger.

“We’ll see how he is. I think everybody would want to aim him back here next year. We’ll see how he comes out of this, but those are the sort of races we could target.”