'We're looking forward to running him in top company' - Formby Novices' Hurdle quotes and insights

It's early days for the Formby, moved from Sandown to Aintree and granted a new title last year having been previously known as the Tolworth.

Among the Tolworth’s final eight runnings were three subsequent Cheltenham Festival-winning novice hurdlers. It'll be interesting to see if a candidate for major spring honours surfaces again.

Potters Charm is just about a deserving favourite. Something of a talking horse, Potters Charm is justifying the hype. He dotted up in a Grade 2 in November and merits a shot at the highest level.

The jury is out regarding the strength of the Cheltenham race, though, and dropping half a mile in trip demands something else of Potters Charm with conditions unlikely to be overly testing. He is worth taking on given the breadth of opposition.

Country Mile and Roadlesstravelled are closely matched on their meeting in a Grade 2 at Haydock. While three lengths split them at the line, Country Mile’s mistake at the last appeared to knock the stuffing out of him. The runner-up was an easy winner at Cheltenham recently and is no forlorn hope to reverse the form.

Graded achievements can sometimes be overhyped when it comes to lightly raced horses and it is unlikely we've seen the best of unbeaten hurdlers Celtic Dino and Miami Magic either.

Celtic Dino has recorded two easy victories in novice company and there is no knowing where his ceiling lies. With a perceived preference for a sound surface, it's intriguing to see which way he goes in the market.

Miami Magic has also crafted his reputation on that sort of terrain over hurdles, but landed a point-to-point on soft going by a wide margin the only time he encountered it. His penalty-carrying Kempton victory last time was impressive enough on the clock to make him a major player.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

'I wouldn't swap him for anything'

Potters Charm's big Christmas target comes two days earlier and over about half a mile shorter than expected, but connections are confident they have selected the right race for the exciting novice hurdler.

The unbeaten Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained five-year-old, who had the alternative option of Newbury's Challow Hurdle on Saturday, has been impressive in three hurdle starts, most recently when winning a Grade 2 over 2m5f at Cheltenham by 11 lengths.

Potters Charm: impressive winner at Cheltenham last timeCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Assistant trainer Willy Twiston-Davies, who sold Potters Charm to a group of owners including Sir Alex Ferguson and Ged Mason, said: "It was more of a strategic thing as this race is probably going to be weaker and looks a very good opportunity.

"He's so naturally talented and we're not really worried about the ground and trip. He looks in great form and we go there very optimistic of winning a Grade 1. I wouldn't swap him for anything."

What they say

Sam Thomas, trainer of Celtic Dino
It looks like it's going to be soft enough there, which wouldn't really be up his street. We're going to find out where we are with him in a better race.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Country Mile
The way the Cheltenham race was run really suited him, but nonetheless he was impressive. He's improving with racing. We have to give him a chance in a race like this and the drier the ground, the better his chance.

Warren Greatrex, trainer of Good And Clever
He lacks a bit of experience as he's only had the one run over hurdles, but it was a nice run behind a very good horse from the Paul Nicholls stable [Regent's Stroll]. He's come on nicely since then and he's a very talented horse with a bright future. He wouldn't want the ground to dry up too much and hopefully it's soft enough.

Olly Murphy, trainer of Junker d'Allier
He's been keeping smaller company but has won very well on his two starts over hurdles. He's stepping up in grade big time, but he's a horse we like. He's got plenty of ability and while he's going to have to step up on what he's done so far, I don't see any reason why he can't run well.

Stuart Edmunds, trainer of Miami Magic
We're very happy with him. It's a very good race but he deserves his place. I don't know what he's beat compared to the others, but he's been visually impressive. I hope the ground doesn't get too soft because he's quite quick.

AJ O'Neill, joint-trainer of Roadlesstravelled
It's not an easy task as there are a lot of good horses in the race, but we're looking forward to running him in top company. It was nice to see the horse who was second to our lad last time [Country Mile] winning the following time. He ran at Haydock on soft ground and it didn't seem to bother him.
Reporting by Andrew Dietz

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