Caldwell Potter stepping up for Mildmay test

Paul Nicholls is looking forward to seeing how Cheltenham Festival hero Caldwell Potter copes with the step up in distance when he heads to Aintree for the Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mildmay Novices’ Chase.

The dashing seven-year-old was a sight to behold when donning the colours of the late John Hales for a poignant success in the Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase, a triumph which was also the Ditcheat handler’s 50th at the Festival.

“It will be interesting to see if he gets three miles, because if he does it opens up a lot more doors,” said Nicholls, whose former winners of this race include Big Buck’s and Silviniaco Conti.

“If he doesn’t we’ll just have to drop back in trip next season, but I’m excited to see how he gets on and we’re looking forward to it.

“I don’t know what plan we will have over three miles, but he seems in good shape and I just hope it’s not too close after Cheltenham as there’s no way of knowing until you run them. Hopefully he will run well.”

A Grade One winner over hurdles in Ireland, Caldwell Potter was subject to a lofty €740,000 transfer fee in early 2024.

That figure brought a weight of expectation ahead of his novice chasing career, but his Cheltenham success rewarded his connections’ investment and faith, with the 14-time champion trainer confident about the likeable grey’s future prospects.

Nicholls added: “Because he’s had that price tag around his neck, he’s sort of been open to criticism, but the guys who own him love this sport and like investing and they’ve got a nice horse now.

“He hasn’t run bad at all and he’s run some nice races and come good at Cheltenham, and everyone enjoys a Cheltenham winner and he will be a nice horse for the future.”

In opposition to Caldwell Potter is Handstands and after Cheltenham proved a difficult watch for Ben Pauling following his decision to skip the Festival, he is hoping it is a decision that pays dividends on Friday afternoon.

“I can’t wait to see Handstands back on the track, it was always the plan to miss Cheltenham,” explained Pauling.

“It was a tough watch, the Brown Advisory, as The Jukebox Man was always heading there and got his injury and Handstands I believe would have easily been good enough to win it – we have two exceptionally nice novices.”

Handstands has won three in a row since falling on his chasing debut and having proven his stamina over three miles at Sandown in December, he showed his class by dropping back in distance to scoop Grade One honours at the Esher track in February, beating subsequent Arkle hero Jango Baie.

“We will always enjoy watching Handstands and on this ground I think it was a fairly obvious decision to go up to three miles again rather than stick at two and a half,” explained Pauling.

“The form of his last race over three is OK, he won it fairly easily and he’s one of those horses who just seems to do whatever is asked of him really.

“He’s had a great year and it would crown it magnificently if he could get his head in front again.”

A four-strong Irish contingent features in a field of eight, with Willie Mullins’ Dancing City a winner at this meeting last season and Gordon Elliott saddling Brown Advisory runner-up Stellar Story.

Elliott said: “He seems to be in good form and look, we would prefer more of a (stamina) test but three miles should suit him and we’re hoping for a good run.”