Sam Twiston-Davies’ William Hill blog: Potters Charm won’t run between now and Cheltenham

William Hill ambassador Sam Twiston-Davies looks ahead to his rides at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and shares the latest plans from the yard.

Potters Charm straight to Cheltenham

Potters Charm jumped nicely throughout in the Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree and I think that’ll be a great learning curve as we look ahead to Cheltenham. He’s definitely more stamina than speed but we wanted him to get him just jumping that stride quicker, and we were happy with him on that side of things on Boxing Day.

He’ll only be entered for the Turners’ Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and we will go straight there, he won’t run between now and the festival. We could clash with The New Lion, who was impressive in the Challow and is clearly England’s other leading contender, and we’re looking forward to the challenge.

New Years Day, Cheltenham

I’m really looking to getting back on Broadway Boy. There’s only faces a handful of runners in three-mile handicap chase (1:30pm), but that won’t affect him as he’s straightforward and likes to go forward and be aggressive in his races. The track suits him well and hopefully he can turn up in the same form as he did at Newbury – if he does, he’ll take all the beating. He could’ve taken in the Welsh National but he’s still young and we’ve got future objectives for him. That race seemed a step too far for him at this stage of his career. He could end up in the Grand National come the end of the season so there’s no reason for us to go and really wear him out in a tough race. The Welsh National was just the wrong time of the season for a horse like him.

In the two-and-a-half-mile premier handicap chase (2:05pm), I’m riding Lounge Lizard. He ran at Carlisle just over two weeks ago and, considering it was his seasonal debut, I thought he ran and jumped well. I think the make-up of the race, being a stiffer test, will suit him. Henry Daly’s done a great job of placing over the last year or so and he was only just touched off at Cheltenham on Trials Day last season. He knows the track well and will hopefully go well.

Strackan, who has won his last two, goes in the handicap hurdle (2:40pm). He bumped into one at Worcester in the form of Double Powerful, who’s gone on to win a couple more since. He’s a straightforward type, he won nicely last time and carries a nice, light weight here. He’s unexposed and hopefully this kind of race will suit him.

Gowel Road runs in the Relkeel Hurdle (3:15pm). He’s been a great servant for us this season and has just been getting a little bit stuck shouldering top-weights in three-mile handicaps and just getting touched off.

His attitude is what keeps him going as he really doesn’t have a lot to work with regarding his handicap mark. Cheltenham are due a shedload of rain on Wednesday morning and if it were to come up heavy, it would become a good staying affair which would suit him and maybe not others so much. He will have to step up a bit to win it, but he will run his race, as he always does.

Walk In The West goes in the bumper (3:50pm). Anthony Honeyball likes this horse, I know he’s been going nicely at home, and this looks a good starting place for him. There’s a lot of runners in the race but even so it’s a fair place to start him off. He’s a big, strong horse and it will be good to learn more about him to see what direction to go in with him.

Matata for the Million

Matata will go to the Winter Million on the 17th January, I think it’ll really suit him ripping round Windsor. There’s a two-mile handicap chase round there, I think he could be quite hard to pass. He’s in wicked form at home, he’s such a consistent, likeable sort. Keep an eye out for him!

‘Gentleman’ Daryl Jacob

Daryl Jacob is an absolute gentleman; through everything he’s always been incredibly helpful with advice on horses and such. I know all the horses well at home, but he’s been helpful with horses such as Matata who I hadn’t ridden in races, he’s got a great way of looking into a race and I always valued his insight, he will be missed in the weighing room. It’s great to hear that he will still be a key part with Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.