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Potters Charm impressed with an easy victory in the 2m5f Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday.
It was a family affair for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies and jockey Sam Twiston-Davies combining for an eleven-length success over Valgrand with third-placed Gale Mahler a further nine-and-a-half lengths behind. The five-year-old stalked odds-on favourite Valgrand throughout before taking advantage three-out, jumping the final flight in good fashion to cement the victory.
Unbeaten in three starts under rules, the five-year-old gelding had justified a short starting price on hurdling debut at Worcester in late September and demonstrated a liking for Cheltenham with an easy success in a novice hurdle at the Opening Meeting in October.
Nigel Twiston-Davies was bullish about Potters Charm's potential, saying: "We were worried about the going today, but we were assured early on that it was okay for him. He's proven his worth today.
"He put on a show. He'll go to Cheltenham, but we aren't sure where yet. He likes it here. He's proved us wrong twice now.
"He just won unbelievably… it will not be the last time".
Winning jockey Sam Twiston-Davies told ITV Racing: "I'm absolutely delighted. It was max revs down to the last thinking there was someone behind me. It's deceptive, this place.
"The horse has done the talking so far, and we'll keep letting him do that.
"We're very lucky to have him".
Potters Charm was cut from 33/1 to 10/1) for the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March and earnt a quote of 12/1 for the Grade 1 Gallagher Novices' Hurdle.