Connections believe they have a “fresh horse in great stead” as Potters Charm targets Aintree Hurdle glory next month.
The seven-year-old was last seen easing to National Spirit success at Fontwell, bypassing the Cheltenham Festival in order to fully prepare for the Grade One contest on Merseyside on April 9.
“He’s in very good form, we’re just working back from Aintree,” said Willy Twiston-Davies, who trains in partnership with his father, Nigel.
“It wasn’t the strongest of races (at Fontwell), but he travelled through the race really well and put it to bed pretty easily.
“It was very good prize-money and there wasn’t a lot for him at Cheltenham so it seemed the logical route to go before Aintree. Hopefully he goes as a fresh horse in great stead.
“He’s a Grade One winner over two miles there, but two and a half (miles) is probably his ideal trip currently. I just hope they go a good gallop that he can pick up off.
“I’m not too worried about the ground, he won on good ground on his debut, but I think he is very ground versatile.
“Obviously it’s over two and a half (miles), but he’s quick enough to win a Grade One over two miles and he’s had a two-and-a-half-mile win on heavy, so we are very laid-back.”
The father and son partnership also have a Randox Grand National hope in Beauport, who was 12th in last year’s renewal which was won by the Willie Mullins-trained Nick Rockett.
“He is really good,” Twiston-Davies added. “He did a really good bit of work last week, he’s coming along nicely.
“I think we will ride him a bit more reserved this year, he probably just pulled a bit too hard when they didn’t go overly fast last year.
“We’ll ride him a lot more reserved. He jumped very well and ran a nice race last year so if he takes a step forward and finishes in the top six, that would be lovely.
“He looked up about a mile and a half, two miles out last year and probably ran himself into the ground a little bit. The idea will be to switch him off a bit earlier on and ride him to finish and he could run a big race.”
