Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
Cheltenham 15:30
(Registered As The Hyde Novices' Hurdle),
£55,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus,
2m 5f 26y, Class 1  
Friday 15th November 2024

BetGoodwin

1 Potters Charm 7/4
2 Valgrand 5/6F
3 Gale Mahler 11/2
5 ran NR: Wildfell Distances: 11l, 9½l
Time: 5m 8.62s (slow by 8.62s)

Potters Charm made a stunning impression with a runaway victory here at Cheltenham. Nigel Twiston-Davies’ five-year-old, who was second in his sole point-to-point start, has been unbeaten under rules, winning a bumper and two hurdle events before stepping up to Grade Two level.

Sent off at 7-4 with Sam Twiston-Davies in the saddle, Potters Charm faced Dan Skelton’s Valgrand, the 5-6 favourite after his easy win last time out. However, it was Potters Charm who dominated, powering to an 11-length victory over the favourite, showcasing his future potential for his syndicate of owners, including former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Coral has cut the winner’s odds to 16-1 from 25-1 for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival in March. Assistant trainer Willy Twiston-Davies said, “I felt a bit of a wally last time saying he’d win like that, but that is what we expect of him. He’s just very naturally talented. Sam said he jumped a lot better today, but Valgrand jumps exceptionally well, so his jumping had to sharpen up from last time at a faster pace. I’m sure he’ll get better again.

“For him to do that on that ground – I can’t wait to see what he does on ground with a bit of dig in it, which is what he wants. He quickens up really well on soft ground. We’ll let the dust settle, but I was talking to Sam, and we’ll either go to the Challow Hurdle (Newbury) or maybe drop back to two miles on soft ground for the Tolworth (Formby at Aintree). We’ll work back from the Festival and make sure we get him there in the best shape possible.”

He continued, “We’ve won a novice, won a novice here, and now a Grade Two. He’s proved he’s a Festival horse. He doesn’t seem to have had the hardest race, but maybe that is his talent speaking. When you put a 140-rated horse away so easily like that, you can’t help but be impressed. I feel a bit vindicated as he doesn’t show the most at home, but when he comes to the track, he lights up. He’s come in, and he’s not blowing.

“We’re very lucky to have a horse like this for these owners. They’ve had success with Dan and Paul (Nicholls), and now they’ve sent us two horses, and both are nice. He’s shown a lot of speed there, so I imagine he’s a Ballymore (Turners) horse. The Albert Bartlett can be a bit of a graveyard.”

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Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
(Registered As The Hyde Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 2)
£55,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 5f 26y, Class 1
5 ran
Going: Good, Good to Soft in places

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1     Potters Charm 5 11-5 Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies 7/4
2 11 Valgrand 5 11-7 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 5/6F
3 9½ Gale Mahler 5 11-0 Adrian Paul Keatley Henry Brooke 11/2
FELL Rockstown Girl 6 10-9 Anthony McCann James O'Sullivan 40/1
BD Grandad's Cap 4 11-1 L J Morgan Jonjo O'Neill Jr 150/1
NR 4 Wildfell 4 11-1 D J Jeffreys NON RUNNER