Potters Charm team expecting ‘different horse’ at Festival

Connections fully expect Potters Charm to rebound at the Cheltenham Festival after an unexpected Trials Day defeat.

The six-year-old was contesting the Ais Novices’ Hurdle on Saturday and came into the race with an unbeaten record under rules, having won a bumper and four prior hurdle starts.

Amongst those runs over obstacles were two at Cheltenham, including a Grade Two event, and then the Grade One Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day.

He was the 8-15 favourite on his return to Prestbury Park as a result, ridden as usual by trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies’ son Sam.

The race had not always been on the gelding’s agenda, but he made a late diversion to the track when the entries list left the contest looking a straightforward task for a horse of his calibre.

That decision was not wholly rewarded, however, with Potters Charm feeling below his best from the off and eventually chasing home Fergal O’Brien’s Sixmilebridge to finish the runner-up by eight and a half lengths.

His trainer expressed his regret in having run him when not fully match fit, but the horse is none the worse and will now turn his attention to the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

“He’s come out of it fine, he’s trotted up sound and he’s just a little bit quiet,” said Willy Twiston-Davies, younger son and assistant of Nigel.

“We didn’t train him for the race specifically, Sam said going into the first hurdle he was worried.

“He didn’t get the feel he got at Aintree, when he was tanking down to the first, he said he was fast asleep.

“I suppose it’s a lesson learnt, but we’ve got plenty of time now until Cheltenham.

“He never travelled and seemed like his normal self, but he still ran a good race considering.

“We’ll put a line through it, we’re very adamant it wasn’t his true running and you’ll see a different horse at Cheltenham.”