TWIG SQUEAKS INTO THE NATIONAL

Saturday’s Grand National will mark another first for Beau Morgan and his beloved Twig. The duo have made the cut for the world’s greatest steeplechase and embark on their first spin over the those infamous birch fences. A race where legends are made and names are etched into history. Just how did these two wind up here?
 
Every horse in the National will have their story. Twig and Beau are no different. Bred by Laurie Strangman and his wife Alicia, Twig’s first couple of starts under rules were lacklustre to say the least! As a young horse Twig was particularly susceptible to bugs and being a weak, backward type the Strangman’s made the decision to move him on. At the time Luca Morgan was our Conditional Jockey and looking for a horse to get his younger brother Beau started on. The Strangman’s kindly agreed that the Morgan’s would be a good fit for Twig and provide Beau with a nice horse to go pointing on for a small fee.
 
Matt and Felicity Hampton of Braysdown Stables trained Twig for the Morgan family with Matt riding Twig in his first run in December 2020 to finish third. Beau then stepped into the saddle and you could say never looked back! Beau’s first ride on Twig was a winning one, and was quickly followed by more. After a dabble in Hunter Chasing the decision was made to run Twig back under rules and back to us he came. Together Twig & Beau have finished second at the Cheltenham Festival and scored their big win in the Summer Cup. Not many partnerships can have claimed to have ticked off so many achievements off a bucket list.
 
When asking Beau about Saturday’s upcoming race one word was uttered “mad!”. “What Twig has already done for me is unreal, he was my first ride, first winner, first ride at the Cheltenham Festival and now to have a confirmation in the Grand National – that’s mad. It’s every aspiring jockey’s dream to ride over those fences and to get the opportunity with a horse that has already given us all so much means everything. The support from Luca, Mum and Dad is huge – they have given me opportunities I am so grateful for.”
 
We wish all runners the best of luck for Saturday’s race – but just maybe a little bit extra for Twig & Beau!!