Our Power’s Plate win makes up for Festival woes

PA Sport Reporters
March 14, 2020 4:30 pm

Twiston-Davies camp back on the board at Kempton.

Our Power gave trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies some compensation after a luckless Cheltenham Festival as he claimed the Paddy Power Silver Plate Handicap Hurdle at Kempton.

Gold Cup also-ran Bristol De Mai and Ryanair Chase faller Riders Onthe Storm were notable contenders for Twiston-Davies at Cheltenham, with Our Power only lining up here only after missing the cut for his planned Festival event.

The 11-1 shot seized the opportunity under the trainer’s son Sam, though, settling in behind through the early stages as Cervaro Mix set out to make all.

Favourite Downtown Getaway took up a prominent position too for trainer Nicky Henderson and jockey Nico de Boinville in the two-mile-five-furlong heat, pressing Cervaro Mix all the way to the penultimate flight when he dropped away.

Cervaro Mix also started to feel the heat at that point, just as Our Power made his challenge to grab the lead before the last.

While The Butcher Said tried to make up ground late and was staying on all the way to the line, Our Power dug deep to prevail by a length and three-quarters.

Bootlegger took third, with Ballyhome fourth at 20-1.

Nigel Twiston-Davies said: “He was balloted out of the Martin Pipe, but this race was better and went beautifully for him.

“We had no joy this week. Riders Onthe Storm was in with a chance when he fell, but it was too far out to say he was unlucky.

“Bristol De Mai couldn’t bully them in the Gold Cup, but he’s in good form today and will run in the Grand National.”