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Charm to return to deeper waters

Potters Charm can now look forward to a return to Graded race company after turning what had so far proven to be a frustrating season into a much brighter one with victory in the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Hurdle.

The sky appeared to be the limit for the Valirann gelding, who tasted Grade One glory in the William Hill Formby Novices’ Hurdle last season at Aintree. However, after falling early doors in the Grade Two bet365 Hurdle at Wetherby, his season was quickly put on the backfoot.

But after showing signs of recovery in both the Ladbrokes Ascot Hurdle and Howden Long Walk Hurdle back at the Berkshire track last month the El Rincon-owned gelding finally put it altogether to land the £100,000 contest.

While some might have lost faith in the seven-year-old following those reversals, among them wasn’t his trainers Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies, who remained confident that there were still better days to be had with him.

And the pair were proved to be right with Potters Charm showing the best of his battling abilities on his return to two and a half miles to complete a double for the father and son team, alongside Grade One winning Sam Twiston-Davies.

Having dictated the pace for much of the race the 2/1 chance was headed over the second last by 15/8 favourite, and last year’s winner Nemean Lion, however Potters Charm fought back valiantly to forge on by up the run in and prevail by a length-and-a-quarter.

Willy Twiston-Davies said: “We have had a little argument all day (me and Sam). I’ve watched a few races and I wasn’t happy as Sam wanted to ride him aggressively, but I said if you are going to ride him from the front you have got to hack as nothing seems to be making the running and going on. Luckily the plan came to work. He is a very talented horse and Sam said he was idling in front. Next season we will see the best of him over fences.

“It has been frustrating, but enthusiasm for him has never died down. He was favourite to beat Strong Leader first time at Wetherby this season, but he jumped the hurdle then tripped over. All of a sudden you are on the backfoot. We went to Ascot and it was a really competitive race against Wodhooh and the likes of that. I think he ran really well the last day, but didn’t quite get the trip. I think he is a really exciting horse.”

An appearance in the Grade Two Star Sports National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell could now beckon next for Potters Charm ahead of an outing in the Grade One Aintree Hurdle at the Merseyside venue in April.

Twiston-Davies added: “Where we go from here I don’t know. He showed speed to me there. He hacked, and sprinted, and went away from Nemean Lion well. I think we will look more towards an Aintree Hurdle and maybe a National Spirit before that. I think over three miles the last day he travelled like the winner, but he didn’t quite get home. You have to enjoy days like today as he has just won a one hundred thousand pounds pot. He jumped the best he has done and he seems to be coming on with each run this season.”

Equally delighted with the victory was the winning rider who believes that Potters Charm has another Grade One victory inside him.

He said: “His season started off with a shocker after falling early at Wetherby so we didn’t really learn a whole pile. We mixed in between races since and thankfully he has done well, but he didn’t really answer questions. Thankfully, he has got his head in front.

“There are so many options now. You could play it in a Grade Two at Fontwell then you could look at Aintree with the view of jumping fences next season. I would hope there is another Grade One in him. This season will be tricky as the races get deeper again, but for what it is for him he will be a good deal better jumping fences.”

Pauling star Answers the Questions

No Questions Asked continued the fine run being enjoyed by trainer Ben Pauling and jockey Ben Jones after securing the biggest success of his career in the Fitzdares Your Personal Bookmaker Lightning Novices’ Chase.

Having hit the frame in his two previous Grade Two attempts the gelded son of Ask finally gained a deserved win at the same level when coming from off the pace to nail favourite Be Aware late on in the two mile test.

Although ultimately running out a tenacious winner of the £75,000 contest, victory looked unlikely for the 7/2 chance after he was cut adrift from his two rivals after making an error at the second fence. However, as both Be Aware and Alnilam fought matters out up front, Jones was content to play a waiting game on No Questions Asked, who started to reduce the deficit to his two rivals on the run to the fourth last.

After sweeping past Alinlam in a matter of strides only 8/15 favourite Be Aware stood in his way of securing victory and adding to his debut success at Ascot back in October.

And after jumping the second last much better than his main market rival it handed the initiative to No Questions Asked, but the race was far from over as Be Aware once again closed on the run down to the final fence. But No Questions Asked, who had finished second in the Coral John Francome Novices’ Chase at Newbury in November and the Howden Noel Novices’ Chase at Ascot last month, was not to be denied with Jones steering his mount to victory by a length.

Pauling said: “The race was over after two fences. His work at home has been quiet and he hasn’t been in the best form of his life, so there is loads of improvement to come. I’m delighted to have won a nice prize, with great prizemoney. Fitzdares have been a big supporter of mine so it is nice to win their race, so that’s great.

“At halfway I thought he might pick up second as they went so hard that I didn’t know if the Olly Murphy horse would keep going, but I think we were helped by Be Aware’s jumping. We were a fortunate winner, but jumping is the name of the game and I'm delighted he has won well. He found plenty, and as you saw at Newbury, he stays two and a half miles. I wasn’t worried, but he had to show a bit of guts, and he did.”

Following the race Pauling hinted that No Questions Asked could be aimed at either the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup or the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

But Pauling admitted a trip to the Festival is far from certain, with a step up to Grade One level at Aintree for the Manifesto Novices’ Chase another option.

He added: “You would have to think he could two miles, or two and a half miles at Cheltenham. There are lots of options for him though, but he might not end up going to Cheltenham as he could end up going to Aintree over two and a half miles. We have got all the options open now. I wouldn’t have taken him to the Festival on the form he was on at home, so he has got to show a spark.

“If he is not flying at home you probably won’t see him again until he runs in a proper race because I’ve got to freshen him up and get him back on A1 form. He has got a lot to come, and he will stay further in time. He will give his owners a lot of fun.”

Ayr on radar for Guard The Moon

Nigel Twiston-Davies hinted that the Coral Scottish Grand National could come under consideration for Guard The Moon, who bounced back to winning ways in the Ronald Fletcher Baker LLP Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.

After pulling up at Newbury last time out the gelded son of Pether’s Moon, who Twiston-Davies trains in partnership with his son Willy, made amends on his return to an extended three miles when responding well to Sam Twiston-Davies urgings.

Victory looked to be heading the way of either favourite Queensbury Boy or Saint Davy, who had forced the issue between them for much of the second half of the race. However, the pair were joined at the final fence by the eventual winner, who having looked booked for a place at best, started to gather a good head of steam in his first time cheekpieces.

Although the three jumped the last almost as one it was the 11/2 chance that was to emerge victorious with Twiston-Davies getting a good tune out of his mount on the run in before claiming a three and a quarter length success aboard the eight-year-old.

Nigel Twiston-Davies said: “It was a really good performance as I thought he was well stuffed, but he just outstayed the others. If it wasn’t for Sam other people would have eased him down. Sam doesn’t know when he is beaten so he just kept going. A more galloping track would help him, but I’m very happy.

“He split the ditch at Newbury last time and virtually broke it so he was pulled up four fences, hence why he was able to come back quite soon. His jumping isn’t too bad, but we are very happy.

“We will be carrying on going over three miles, and three miles plus. He probably would have to go up a bit to look at an Ultima, but we have won with novice chasers in the Scottish Grand National before so that might be an idea. It was good ground at Aintree and that was pretty soft so the ground is no worry to him.”

Festival thoughts from Moneygarrow team

Moneygarrow threw his hat in the ring to be part of trainer Dan Skelton’s Cheltenham Festival team after hitting the jackpot in the Thorn Plant Hire Novices’ Hurdle at Windsor.

Arriving on the back of an odds-on victory at Warwick last time out the Shantou gelding took a step up to three miles in his stride with a tenacious success under Harry Skelton.

In a race which looked a potentially useful one on paper it was two of the leading protagonists that fought out the finish in an entertaining battle to the line. Although favourite, They Call Me Hugo, who previously finished second in the Grade Two Bristol Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, held every chance, he could not repel the challenge of the 5/2 chance, who prevailed by three quarters of a length.

Tom Messenger, assistant trainer, said: “He has a real constitution for a three miler as he is very relaxed, and he comes home well. He has got a bit of speed as well. These sort of trips will suit him well. It was a good race I think. For the horses over here, in this division it was strong.

“The horse of Charlie Longsdon’s (Swindon Village) I watched win at Leicester, and I think that is a fair horse, as he went on a good gallop on bad ground at Leicester. Olly Murphy’s is a good horse, and maybe they might not feel it was not enough of a test of stamina, but for me I think we would have been able to follow that around wherever we went. I think ours has a little bit of poke, whereas that is a real stayer. I think three mile suits him as he relaxes and then has a bit of toe.”

And following the race Moneygarrow was introduced at 33/1 for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, which could be next on the agenda according to connections.

Messenger added: “We will have to have a conversation about Cheltenham as he has already had a pretty busy season so far and that Albert Bartlett is a tough race. He would probably fit the type of horse that would do well around there as he is relaxed and he takes it all in well. The other option would be Aintree, but I think he would be able to handle Cheltenham.

"It is a hard race for a young horse, and it is not as straightforward as a Supreme, as it can bottom them out, but he does seem to have a good constitution for it. He has to keep winning to have the discussion, but he has won again today, and now the discussion has got to get serious as if he is going to Cheltenham we have to train him for it from tomorrow.”

Lavelle thrilled with Bluey win

Bluey resumed her progression over fences to open up options at Listed level when returning to form in the Fitzdares Telephone And Text Betting Service Mares’ Handicap Chase.

After finishing second at the meeting 12 months ago in the mares’ novices’ hurdle the daughter of Affinisea went one better when showing plenty of resolve under joint top-weight to complete a double for Grade One-winning rider Jones.

The writing looked to be on the wall for the 3/1 chance, who is part owned by Lavelle’s brother Johnathon, once headed before the second last, however she was not to be denied with Jones getting his mount up almost on the line to deny Largy Force by a length.

Lavelle said: “She is just so tough and you would have to say at three out she looked as though she was going to be beaten and I thought this ground, and the extra distance is not going to be the answer.

“But she has then taken a bit of confidence by getting a big breather and she has then been able to think I’ve got my wind here and hit the line. She galloped out hard to the line and she is so versatile.

“She was a little bit keen in places. I expected at three out that was going to be it and I didn’t expect her to come back and hit the line as strong as she did. It is kind of exciting as it opens up so many avenues for her. The fact she stayed the distance and she has handled this ground. She is an unbelievable mare.

“She was a very inexpensive purchase, and she is just as hard as nails, and is a joy to have anything to do with. I think we probably look at black type races with her. There is a graded novice chase at Exeter we might look at now.”

Fuss set to Newbury and Festival

Tom Dascombe might be better associated with training big winners on the Flat, but he enjoyed a notable victory over the jumps after Hot Fuss saw his consistency rewarded in the Fitzdares Sovereign Handicap Hurdle.

Having run with credit without getting his head in front in each of his three starts this season the hard as nails five-year-old finally altered that statistic when toughing it out in the £110,000 feature under David Bass.

After finishing fourth just 13 days ago at Sandown Park the Calyx gelding showed no ill effects of that run when staying on best of them all in the two mile contest much to the delight of his jubilant connections.

Although faced with a real tussle on his hands after the last from 85/40 favourite, and top weight Wilful, the 10/1 chance was not for passing with Bass driving his mount out to score by two and three quarter lengths.

Dascombe said: “We knew there was a big race in him from his two-year-old career. The grass on the flat was too quick for him, so we thought we would send him hurdling. He wanted good to soft on the flat, but I nearly didn’t run him today, but luckily the owners told me let’s just have a go. You have only got to look under your feet and it is pretty soft. That horse is as gutsy as you will ever see. I wish I could find more horses that just want to do it. He really wants to do it and that’s about it really.”

Having finished fourth in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last season a return to the meeting could be in store for Hot Fuss according to the Lambourn handler.

But before taking in a trip to Prestbury Park in March, Hot Fuss could take aim at next month’s William Hill Hurdle, which he was cut from 33/1 into 12/1 for by Paddy Power.

Dascombe said: “He is entered in the William Hill, but he will probably go up four or five pounds. He was fourth at the Cheltenham Festival last season. He is a decent horse. I think he will end up back at Cheltenham as these guys want to go there.”

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