Successful start for Charlie Longsdon and Nigel Twiston-Davies

Nigel Twiston-Davies and Charlie Longsdon both celebrated success at Cheltenham on New Year's day.

Naunton-based Twiston-Davies saw his six-year-old gelding Weveallbeencaught justify his 5-4 favouritism in the Ballymore Maiden Hurdle.

Sam Twiston-Davies had to work hard aboard the £210,00 purchase, who is set to return to the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Twiston-Davies senior has hinted that the Albert Bartlett Novies’ Hurdle, for which Weveallbeencaught was cut to 12-1 from 20-1 by Paddy Power, would be his preferred option.

“He doesn’t have to have three miles, but he will be better at three, you’d think,” he said.

“He will come back in March for one of the two novice hurdles. I’m sure it will be the three-mile one. We don’t want to take on Hermes Allen. We’re not stupid.”

Hector Javilex ridden by Lilly Pinchin goes on to win The Paddy Power Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham Racecourse (Image: PA WIRE)

Meanwhile Chipping Norton-based Longsdon teamed up with jockey Lily Pinchin once again, following the pair’s success with Tea For Free at Newbury on Saturday.

Pinchin scored with Hector Javilex in the three mile Paddy Power Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s day.

Longsdon said: “Three miles and slower ground suited. He had a trapped epiglottis on his first run in this country on slow ground. He couldn’t breath. Since then we have only run him on better ground, for no reason other than that is what was put in front of us.

“He relishes this slower ground and it looked like it today – that was a career-best by a country mile. We have now got to look at a Pertemps Qualifier, really. If he is going to be rated mid-130s, that does sneak him in the Pertemps, so we will have to think about that and come back in the spring, maybe.”

Rare Edition ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies goes on to win the Ladbrokes “We Play Together” Novices’ Hurdle during day one of the Ladbrokes Christmas Festival at Kempton Racecourse (Image: PA WIRE)

Longsdon has also been reflecting on the performances of Rare Edition, who put an impressive display at Kempton on Boxing Day under Sam Twiston-Davies.

Now unbeaten in four races under rules, Longsdon is pondering a step into Grade Two company for the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock on January 21 for his charge.

He believes that the best is yet to come for Rare Edition, but added that he will need to brush up on his hurdling.

“His jumping is very neat and tidy, but it is almost too careful at the moment. I want to do quite a lot of work in that area over the next few weeks,” he said.

“He has clearly got a motor on him and, don’t get me wrong, the jumping will come with time, but when he is running in big races, I don’t want to be losing the odd half-length like he did at Kempton.”