'He's talented whatever the surface and this trip will be perfect' - can Potters Charm remain unbeaten upped in class?

History tells us this novice hurdle is unlikely to have any significant bearing on the Cheltenham Festival, but we don't always need to look into our crystal balls and it remains a fascinating heat all the same.

That is because Potters Charm and Valgrand have emerged as two of the leading British novice hurdlers by dint of their successes at the Showcase meeting. While Vagrand’s strike was the more visually impressive of the two, Potters Charm edges favouritism in the early lists.

Barely anything can split them on Racing Post Ratings and Topspeed figures also have them closely matched. However, Valgrand was around six lengths quicker from two out to the line in the Sharp Novices’ Hurdle than Potters Charm was in his novice, albeit that race was over four furlongs further.

The manner in which Valgrand ate up the ground suggested he will have few issues with this extra yardage and it is easy to imagine the pair flip-flopping in the market.

Perhaps the reputation of Potters Charm, who is unbeaten under rules, precedes him at this stage. Still, it is likely both would have been able to pull out more if required. Whoever takes the bigger step forward from the Showcase meeting will surely hold sway.

Gale Mahler was sent off odds-on for Valgrand’s tour de force, although it is hard to imagine a reverse, even with the mare weighted to finish closer off 5lb better terms.

Of the remainder, hurdles debutant Wildfell is impossible to recommend and was regressive on the Flat. Grandad’s Cap failed to show much on his first completed hurdles start at Wetherby this month and Irish raider Rockstown Girl has plenty on her plate in this company.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

What they say

Dan Skelton, trainer of Valgrand
It's a good race. I wasn't surprised he won last time but I was surprised how far he won. We'll find out here what the form is, when we take on horses like Potters Charm, but I'm very happy with him.

Willy Twiston-Davies, assistant to Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Potters Charm
We're really looking forward to him. It's a step up again but we like him a lot. We'd like to see him on soft ground, when he won his bumper on heavy you could see he handled it while a lot of others can't. But he's talented whatever the surface and this trip will be perfect round there, although he'll eventually stay three miles.

Adrian Keatley, trainer of Gale Mahler
She's in good form and we found a few things after her last run. She was second in a Grade 2 but it wasn't her true running, she came into season and she over-heated, which isn't like her. I think you can put a line through that and I hope she'll go closer this time.
Reporting by David Carr

Read more previews:

'He's definitely one we're excited about' - who fancies their chance in a race graced by several Cheltenham favourites?

Jonbon returns, but should he be fearful of his rivals? Expert analysis and quotes for the Shloer Chase

Can Conflated become the latest cross-country star for Gordon Elliott?

Can Spirit Dancer defend his $1 million Bahrain International Trophy crown to become the first dual winner of the race?