Potter dips in distance for Lightning test

All eyes will be on Caldwell Potter when he lines up for the Fitzdares Lightning Novices’ Chase at Windsor.

The Grade Two highlights the first day of the Berkshire Winter Million, with Caldwell Potter’s €740,000 price tag ensuring he is the headline horse.

He made the perfect start to life for Paul Nicholls over fences at Carlisle but was only third when racing over two and a half miles for the first time at Cheltenham last time out.

And while he is 10lb clear on official ratings courtesy of winning a Grade One novice hurdle for Gordon Elliott, Nicholls does not want to see the ground dry up too much.

“He enjoys proper soft ground so I hope it doesn’t dry out any more at Windsor, which is a sharp enough track for him,” said Nicholls, who nevertheless feels the return to two miles will suit his grey, whose ownership group includes Sir Alex Ferguson.

In receipt of a mares’ allowance, Jamie Snowden’s You Wear It Well comes out second best on the figures in what is a tight affair.

“It’s a competitive race, as you’d expect, but we’re looking forward to it,” said Snowden.

“The allowance she gets puts her right in the thick of it on the ratings and I think the drop back in trip will really help her as well.

“She was unlucky not to win first time out at Bangor and then it looked like she was outstayed last time at Warwick, so the drop back in trip looks the right move and she’s in good order.

“Dropping back in trip we might ride her more handily, but there’s only four runners so she wouldn’t be too far off the pace in any case.

“I think two miles and soft ground could be what she wants over fences, I don’t think she wants deep, heavy ground, so two miles and soft should be perfect.”

Ben Pauling has a strong squad of novice chasers and has always felt Personal Ambition deserves his place on his team, despite failing to win in three chase outings to date.

“I’m sort of here, there and everywhere with him in regards trip and his first two runs have been over two and then he stepped up in trip at Ascot,” said Pauling.

“I was keen to run him at Wetherby (in the Towton) but on that ground down there at Ffos Las, I’m glad I didn’t go there as he’s not the type to pull himself out of a bog.

“It’s an interesting period and after one more run we’ll see where we end up (in the spring).”

It is an important day for Harry Fry’s Gidleigh Park, who looks built for fences but suffered from a fibrillating heart on his chasing debut at Kempton.

“Brian (Carver) pulled him up early as you could see he wasn’t travelling or jumping and the vets immediately diagnosed an irregular heartbeat,” Fry told Sky Sports Racing.

“He also had it in October 2023 so it’s not new to him and he made a full recovery before and it reverted on its own accord again.

“He’s quietly gone up through the gears and we’re ready to start his season. We’re looking forward to seeing him back in action.

“It’s given us the chance to make something of this campaign, we’ve been through it before and had another horse do something similar.

“He’s schooled great. We’re putting him in at Grade Two level, but these are the only level-weights novice chases now.

“We’re hoping to put the last day firmly behind us, but obviously he doesn’t have the experience the others have.”