3 minute read

The connections of one of last winter’s jumping stars are taking a relaxed approach to his immediate future.

Tallyho Twinkletoe has yet to return to Kevin Myers’ stable and part-owner Jo Rathbone said they were in no rush with the five-year-old.

“He’s in pre-training on the farm with Kayla Veenendaal and is being worked over the hills.

“We’re not in too much of a hurry and we’ll take it slowly – he’s still a young horse.”

Tallyho Twinkletoe won three of his seven starts on the flat before he was unplaced in his hurdle debut at Hastings last June.

He then won his next two starts over the small fences by wide margins and impressively stepped up to the big time with a seven length defeat of Kings Deep and Wee Biskit in the Grand National Hurdles.

Rathbone said it was doubtful if Tallyho Twinkletoe would be ready to defend his title at Riccarton.

“It’s unlikely, but we’ll see how he comes up and leave it to Kevin to decide what we’ll do a bit later on.”

Meanwhile, the capable Teddy Twinkletoes, also co-owned by Rathbone, is on the easy list after one outing in the autumn.

“He was quite jarred up after Christchurch, it was way too hard for him and he does have his issues,” she said. “He’s on the walker at Kevin’s place at the moment.”

Rathbone races Teddy Twinkletoes, the winner of four races, with Wanganui identity Dave MacNab who also shares in the ownership of Tallyho Twinkletoe.