Sam Twiston-Davies not ruling out return at International meeting

Sam Twiston-Davies is confident of being back in the saddle before Christmas, and has not ruled out returning for this month's Cheltenham meeting.

Twiston-Davies fractured his elbow in a fall at Sandown last month, but is healing well and had the elbow x-rayed on Monday.

"The plate and screws have held well and the doctor was happy with it," the rider said on Tuesday. "I'm at Oaksey House and won't be riding this weekend, but I'll graft away all this week and early next week and see where we are midweek next week.

"It's one of those things where I'm waiting on the full range of movement to be back and when that's happened we're good to go."

With The New One just one of the rides on offer at Cheltenham's International meeting, which begins on December 15, Twiston-Davies is keen to be back in action as soon as possible, but accepts he may have to wait longer.

"I'll be back before Christmas but Cheltenham is very touch and go," he added. It'll be very tough to be back but in my own mind if I can prove I'm capable then hopefully I might be able to wing Cheltenham, but I imagine it will be the week after.

"I'll have to prove a few people wrong to make Cheltenham but the week after we'll be good to go."

'Hopefully he can come back and teach us all something new'

While Twiston-Davies is itching to get back in the saddle, younger brother Willy announced on Monday that he will not be returning, preferring instead topursue a career in bloodstock and training.

The 23-year-old plans to one day succeed father Nigel and commenting on his decision, Sam Twiston-Davies said: "Having the injuries he's had it's very hard to keep bouncing back. He wants to do well at whatever he does. Hopefully he'll go out now and do what he really enjoys doing."

Twiston-Davies thinks his sibling can make a success of his new career path, and added: "He's a very intelligent lad and has ridden for some of the best trainers around the country.

"We're very lucky to have Carl Llewellyn and Jim Old around and Willy adds another string to that bow. He does have a great understanding of a horse and it'll be nice to see what he can achieve while he gets more education and learning and hopefully he can come back and teach us all something new."

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