'You couldn't ask for a better start' - Caldwell Potter caps memorable weekend for Paul Nicholls

Paul Nicholls capped a memorable weekend when high-class novice hurdler Caldwell Potter won comfortably on his stable and chase debut at Carlisle on Sunday.

He was 2-11 favourite for his first start in Britain in a two-mile novice chase and made all under champion jockey Harry Cobden, beating Hombre De Guerra by five lengths. Betfair and Paddy Power responded by trimming him to 20-1 (from 25s) for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase and cutting him to 25-1 (from 50s) for the Arkle.

Owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason, John Hales and Peter Done, the six-year-old was sold for a jumps record of €740,000 as part of Andrew and Gemma Brown’s Caldwell Construction dispersal sale in February, having won the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown last December when trained by Gordon Elliott.

Caldwell Potter had it all his own way on chase debutCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"That's just what we were hoping for," said Nicholls. "He was a little bit novicey but had a nice run round. He jumped a tad left, which he does a little bit at home and is something I noticed when watching his races in Ireland, but that's just him. It was probably him being a bit fresh and green, but if he's slightly better going left-handed, then so be it. You couldn't ask for a better start."

The 14-time champion trainer said there were no immediate plans for Caldwell Potter, and added: "Our focus will be on getting a bit more experience into him because that's only his fourth start over jumps. I've not got a definite plan but we'll find somewhere after Christmas."

Reflecting on the performance, Cobden told Racing TV: "He was very fresh, so it's nice to get a run into him to take the edge off. He was professional and went down to the first like he'd already jumped a million fences. I'm glad we came here rather than Newbury on Friday. I thought the ground was quite testing but you couldn't have the ground soft enough for this horse."

Paul Nicholls: "We've got some lovely young horses coming through as part of a good team and it's quite exciting"Credit: Edward Whitaker

Nicholls and Cobden have had a fruitful three days. On Friday, the pair had a quickfire double at Newbury with exciting prospects Regent's Stroll and Kalif Du Berlais, before winning Saturday's Coral Gold Cup with Kandoo Kid, just two weeks after they landed the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham with Il Ridoto. 

"Friday started well with Regent's Stroll and Kalif Du Berlais," said Nicholls. "Then on Saturday, I think we've got a smart mare in Jubilee Alpha, who ran well before we won the Coral Gold Cup. Having these winners on a Saturday is what we like to do. We've got some lovely young horses coming through as part of a good team and it's quite exciting."

New duo off the mark

Grand National-winning trainer Sue Smith and Joel Parkinson celebrated their first winner on a joint-licence with O'Connell's narrow success in the 3m½f handicap chase.

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