Sixmilebridge surprises Potters Charm at Cheltenham

Sixmilebridge inflicted a shock defeat on the previously unbeaten Potters Charm in the Ais Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Potters Charm had been impressive in winning each of his four previous starts over hurdles, most recently claiming Grade One success in the Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day.

In the immediate aftermath of that top-level triumph, connections suggested they would keep their powder dry for the Festival in March, but decided to turn out again for this Grade Two contest and he was an 8-15 favourite to add another win to his CV.

However, while the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained gelding travelled well enough for much of the two-and-a-half-mile contest, Sam Twiston-Davies was hard at work from early in the home straight as he attempted to close the gap on Challow Hurdle third Bill Joyce and 9-1 shot Sixmilebridge.

The latter faced a step up in class after successive low-key wins at Leicester and Huntingdon for Fergal O’Brien, but proved more than up to the task – finding plenty for Kielan Woods after jumping the final flight in front to beat the staying-on Potters Charm by eight and a half lengths.

Coral cut Sixmilebridge to 16-1 from 33-1 for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival, while pushing Potters Charm out to 16-1 from 7s.

“It’s been a poor day what with Crambo and a horse up at Uttoxeter getting beat and this has pulled us out of the fire,” said O’Brien.

“We’ve always thought he was a lovely horse and we were very disappointed when he got beat on his hurdling debut at Stratford as he’s always worked great.

“Big credit to Kielan and to Max Kendrick who rides him every day as he’s not an easy horse, he’s very hot as you can see. It’s just about getting his mind right.

“The plan will be to come back for the Festival, that’s what the Megsons are in the game for and they have some lovely horses. They put a lot into the sport so deserve to have a horse like this.”

Reflecting on the defeat of Potters Charm, Nigel Twiston-Davies said: “It’s a little disappointing, but he will be better at the Festival.

“I regret bringing him and we weren’t going to bring him here. We brought him because we thought it was a weak race and he wasn’t at full capacity.

“You will see a better horse in March and we’ll be sticking at two and a half miles.”