Sam Twiston-Davies’ William Hill Blog: Potters Charm out to showcase Cheltenham Festival credentials

William Hill ambassador Sam Twiston-Davies previews his rides on Saturday at Cheltenham Trials Day.

Monday saw an exciting victory for Lavender Hill Mob under James Owen, and it was a performance that really stood out. The horse is finally starting to click, and it’s great to see him getting his head in front. It’s an encouraging sign for the future, and I’m definitely excited about what lies ahead for him.

But now, the focus shifts to Cheltenham Trials Day this Saturday—a meeting I’m particularly looking forward to. Cheltenham always produces top-class racing, and with so many talented horses lining up, we’ll certainly get answers to some big questions ahead of the Festival. Let’s dive into the runners I’ll be riding this weekend.

Cheltenham, Saturday

I’m kicking things off with Guard Your Dreams (12.40pm) in the novices’ handicap. He’s been a model of consistency around Cheltenham this season, always finding himself in the mix. His form around here speaks for itself, and we know he likes the track. I think it’ll be a case of same again in terms of tactics—he’s always shown up well at Cheltenham, so we just need everything to fall into place and hope we can get his head in front this time.

Next up is East India Dock (1.15pm) in the Triumph Hurdle Trial. I sat on him for a workout on Thursday morning, and I have to say, he felt in fantastic form. The New Course at Cheltenham should really suit him, and I’m hopeful this race will give us a clearer picture of his chances in the Triumph Hurdle come March.

Obviously, Nicky Henderson’s Lulamba has been generating a lot of buzz and market support for the Triumph, but I’m confident that a solid run on Saturday will help us gauge where East India Dock stands. It’s always valuable to get a run around Cheltenham, especially on the course and distance we’ll face in the future.

Gowel Road (3.35pm) goes in the Cleeve Hurdle, and once again, we’re aiming for consistency. He’s been really strong in his last four Cheltenham runs, finishing second each time. This is obviously a very hot race, but if he’s at his best, I think he’s definitely in with a shout. He holds an entry in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, so if he puts in a strong performance on Saturday, that option will be very much in play.

Lastly, I’m excited about Potters Charm (4.10pm) in the Grade 2 novices’ hurdle on Saturday. This presents a fantastic opportunity to see him in action at Cheltenham again as he’s been taking his races so well this season. It looks a very winnable race for him.

This will be Potters Charm’s fifth run of the season, but he’s schooling brilliantly and pleasing everyone in his work. While he’s in such great form, we feel it’s the perfect chance to give him even more experience while we’re lucky enough to have him.

We’re incredibly fortunate to have a horse like him. His form speaks for itself, and we’re confident he’ll back that up again on Saturday and showcase his Cheltenham Festival credentials. There’s plenty of time after the weekend to get him fresh and ready for the Cheltenham Festival, where I’m almost certain he’ll line up in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle.