'The Turners is his race and I wouldn't swap him' - Potters Charm likely to go straight to Cheltenham Festival after Formby win

The Nigel Twiston-Davies yard will not be deviating from the plan to target the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival with Potters Charm after his Grade 1 success over a shorter distance at Aintree on Boxing Day.

Potters Charm, who is owned by the El Rincon Partnership, boasts a 5-5 record under rules and landed the William Hill Formby Novices’ Hurdle when dropped to two miles and a furlong by two and a quarter lengths.

His other three wins over hurdles, including two victories at Cheltenham, have come over further and he will step back up in trip at the festival in March.

Potters Charm is third in the betting with several firms for the Turners and is a general 10-1 chance behind 10-3 favourite The New Lion, who landed the Challow Novices’ Hurdle for Dan Skelton at Newbury last week, and 8-1 shot Jasmin De Vaux.

Willy Twiston-Davies, son and assistant to trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, said: “He’s come out of the race brilliantly. There’s not many races he can run in before March and I’d be inclined to go straight to the festival. We won’t rule anything out but it’s more than likely he’ll have a gallop somewhere before Cheltenham.

Potters Charm (right) will go back up in trip at the Cheltenham FestivalCredit: JOHN GROSSICK

“Aintree did not make us think to consider any other novice hurdle at the festival. The Turners is his race and he’s a two-and-a-half-miler at this stage in his career. I wouldn’t swap him for anything. He keeps running and he keeps winning.”

The thick fog made for a challenging viewing experience for those watching the Formby but Twiston-Davies said his brother Sam, who is Potters Charm’s rider, was delighted with the performance.

He said: “Sam was over the moon with him and felt he jumped slicker than ever. He said he idled in front and always wins as he does and had lots left.

“It’s very exciting to be able to drop him in trip and win a Grade 1 and we hope that will sharpen him up and make him as slick as possible for the festival. We tried to think outside the box a little with him and think he will stay three miles eventually, so it was impressive for him to win over two miles.”

Beauport: Grand National is main aim for the seasonCredit: John Grossick Racing

The Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham’s Trials day on January 25 and the Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock on February 15 are two options under consideration for Long Walk Hurdle third Beauport.

Connections are working back from the Randox Grand National, a race his joint-owner Bryan Burrough landed with Corbiere in 1983. Beauport is a general 33-1 chance for the Aintree showpiece on April 5.

Twiston-Davies said: “He'll stick to hurdles until the National weights are out. He’s a very good horse and improving so we’re looking forward to Aintree. He’s run two good races back to back, which is something he didn’t used to do, and that makes a big difference.”

Turners Novices' Hurdle (Cheltenham Festival, March 12)
Ladbrokes: 10-3 The New Lion, 8 Jasmin De Vaux, 10 Jalon D'Oudairies, Potters Charm, 12 Kopek Des Bordes, 14 Kaid D'Authie, 16 bar.

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