Charm offensive being prepared by Twiston-Davies team

The Twiston-Davies team consider Potters Charm and Broadway Boy to be their leading hopes of enjoying more Cheltenham Festival glory.

Potters Charm is preparing to run in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle and has already enjoyed two victories at the track this year when taking a novice handicap and then the Hyde Novices’ Hurdle.

He was subsequently the winner of the Grade One Formby at Aintree on Boxing Day, but lost his unbeaten record under rules when runner-up in the Classic Novices’ Hurdle on Trials day in late January.

Connections conceded that running the bay in the latter race was the wrong choice in hindsight as he was not quite at the peak of his powers, but expect the loss to be rectified with a return to form at Prestbury Park in the middle of March.

“He’s fine, he worked nicely this morning (Tuesday), we’re very pleased with him. His form stands up well, obviously we were disappointed he got beat last time – he still picked up 16 grand so it wasn’t too bad,” said Willie Twiston-Davies, assistant to his father, Nigel, at a Cheltenham media event.

“He had two weeks quiet after that, we’ve stacked up his work again and he will have a nice bit on Friday. Of the English, I wouldn’t swap him.

“He obviously acts very well round here, he is very versatile on the ground and Sam (Twiston-Davies) can ride him anyway he wants, he falls asleep in his races, and I think he’s got a very good chance.”

Broadway Boy is another key runner at the meeting for the stable, a challenger for the Ultima who has already gone close in a big race this term when second to Kandoo Kid in the Coral Gold Cup.

An error not far from home interrupted his rhythm, however, and Twiston-Davies expects a better round of jumping than January’s fourth-placed Cheltenham effort after medicating the joints in his knees.

He said: “Broadway Boy, along with Potters Charm, is probably our best hope of the Festival. He’s off 150, was second in the Hennessy (Coral Gold Cup) and you can say if he didn’t smash through four out, he probably could have won it.

“He’s had his knees medicated since his bad run in January, which was completely unlike him when he never jumped a twig or went a yard. I thought he might pull him up after two or three, I was really disappointed with him.

“He’s in the form of his life, I struggle to think what could be better than him really. Obviously he’s rated 150 and this time last year he was a Brown Advisory and Gold Cup horse, so off 150 you’d like to think he’s well treated still.”

Matata, who shone when running away with the Great Park Handicap at Windsor, is unlikely to head to the meeting after disappointing when third in the Game Spirit as the 11-8 favourite next time out.

Stablemate Master Chewy was something of an unexpected winner in the latter event, and a step up in trip for the Ryanair could now beckon.

“Matata probably won’t go to Cheltenham at all and Master Chewy looks like he could step up for the Ryanair, depending on the ground,” Twiston Davies explained.

“We all think he got outpaced in the Game Spirit and landed on the bridle a furlong out. He ran very well over three miles in point-to-points and I think he’s been crying out for a step up in trip.”

Gowel Road will fly the flag in the Stayers’ Hurdle, and is certainly not short of Cheltenham form having run his last five races at the track.

The most recent of those was a Cleeve Hurdle victory, prior to which he was the runner-up of four successive contests.

“Gowel Road has been underrated. He was second to The Wallpark and then twice in handicaps giving 25lb away, second to Lucky Place over an inadequate trip,” said Twiston-Davies.

“He’s a very, very genuine and likeable horse and a pleasure to have round the place. He’ll run his race, whether he is good enough to win, I don’t know, but he deserves a shot at a good race.”