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Potter picked to prevail at Cheltenham

December 2024

All eyes will be on Caldwell Potter as he takes his next step over fences in the SSS Super Alloys Novices' Chase at Cheltenham on Friday.

A Grade One winner over hurdles for Gordon Elliott, the six-year-old was always going to be one of the headline horses this year after changing hands for E740,000 back in February.

Paul Nicholls adopted a patient approach with his expensive recruit, bypassing the big novice events at all the spring festivals and eventually choosing a relatively low-key introductory contest over fences at Carlisle just under two weeks ago.

Those decisions seemingly paid dividends as Caldwell Potter ran out an easy 5-length winner over 3200m, making all and turning in a virtually faultless round of jumping at the first time of asking.

Stiffer competition awaits here - not least from Jango Baie - but Caldwell Potter should improve both for that outing, when he was very fresh, and moving up 800m in trip.

That's Nice is another runner of real potential in the British EBF "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle.

The four-year-old was a point-to-point winner in February and made an immediate impact on her first start for Nicky Henderson when winning at Warwick.

Subsequent Listed winner Honky Tonk Highway was 1.5-lengths back in second and given That's Nice had plenty in hand, the performance reads well.

Fellow Seven Barrows inmate Willmount lines up in the Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle, after the best part of a year off the track.

He looked a classy type when hacking up by 13 lengths at Newbury on his first start for Henderson but did not run again after disappointing in the Challow. A starting mark of 130 gives his team something to work with.

At the other end of the scale, Dashel Drasher will turn 12 in a couple of weeks and has few secrets at this point.

That said, he was a Grade One winner over fences for Jeremy Scott back in 2021 as well as securing Grade Two gold over hurdles last season, when he got the better of Paisley Park in a real battle of the veterans.

Having his first start over fences in nearly two years at Ascot last month, he just fell short in finishing third behind Pic D'Orhy in the 1965 Chase but still showed a fair level of ability.

The handicapper dropped him by 4 points after that run and he makes plenty of appeal as he dips in class for the Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans' Handicap Chase.

Away from Cheltenham, Lilting Verse is the choice in Doncaster's Talasey Novices' Limited Handicap Chase after a recent hard-fought Huntingdon win. - Press Association

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings on Friday. Here are the tips.

DONCASTER: Race 1: 13.40 Melon, Race 2: 14.17 Lilting Verse, Race 3: 14.50 Court Cian, Race 4: 15.25 War Soldier, Race 5: 15.57 Nickelforce, Race 6: 16.32 Saunton Surf, Race 7: 17.07 Marty McFly.

CHELTENHAM: Race 1: 14.10 That's Nice, Race 2: 14.40 CALDWELL POTTER (NAP), Race 3: 15.15 Willmount, Race 4: 15.50 King Turgeon, Race 5: 16.25 Dashel Drasher, Race 6: 17.00 Stumptown, Race 7: 17.35 Zain Nights.

BANGOR: Race 1: 14.25 Gentleman Bill, Race 2: 15.00 Atlantic Lad, Race 3: 15.35 New Found Fame, Race 4: 16.05 Kevin's Pride, Race 5: 16.40 Strackan, Race 6: 17.15 Mythical Light.

SOUTHWELL: Race 1: 18.15 Impatiently, Race 2: 18.45 Alreet Cha, Race 3: 19.15 King David, Race 4: 19.45 Clockmaker, Race 5: 20.15 Solvency, Race 6: 20.45 Elegant Call, Race 7: 21.15 Master Of My Fate, Race 8: 21.45 Cherry Hill, Race 9: 22.15 Airshow.

DOUBLE: That's Nice ad Caldwell Potter (Cheltenham, Races 1 and 2)

 

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