Valgrand © Photo Healy Racing
Valgrand and Potters Charm will put their unbeaten hurdles records on the line when they return to Cheltenham for an exciting clash in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on Friday.
Dan Skelton’s Valgrand made it three out of three over timber with a thoroughly impressive victory in Grade Two company at Prestbury Park last month and now has the chance to cement his growing reputation stepping up in trip.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Potters Charm also impressed during Cheltenham’s opening meeting of the season, but whereas his team feel soft ground will ultimately be where he is seen at his best, Valgrand is backed to continue to thrive with sound underfoot conditions for assistance.
“Dan is very pleased with the horse and came out of that really impressive victory at Cheltenham last time in great shape,” said Harry Herbert, managing director of owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing.
“He’s had his eye on this race and it makes sense, he acts so well on the track and has done well in both his runs at Cheltenham.
“He loves this ground and wouldn’t want soft ground, he has a wonderful action. He has jumped beautifully so far and touch wood that continues.
“We are going to learn a bit more about him and as we said after the last win, we just need to see where we stand in the bigger picture. We just hope we are still heading upwards. It will be fascinating to see how he gets on.”
Potters Charm has always been held in high regard by the Twiston-Davies operation and he will now make his first start in graded company.
“He was very impressive, we couldn’t ask any more from him and hopefully he will step up again,” said assistant trainer Willy Twiston-Davies.
“This will tell us where we are and he’s entitled to take his chance at this level. He’s very similar to the other horse (Valgrand) on ratings, but I do think he will improve again.
“I think we’ll see a massive improvement when he gets soft ground, there just isn’t any at the minute. He’s doing his winning despite the ground and I do think you will see an even better horse when he gets some soft ground.”
Also on the card, Conflated becomes the latest decorated performer from Gordon Elliott’s Cullentra House academy to try his hand over the cross-country fences in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase.
Owned by Gigginstown House Stud, the 10-year-old is a dual Grade One winner and has placed in both the Gold Cup (2023) and Ryanair Chase (2024) at the Cheltenham Festival in recent years.
He is by far clear of his nearest rivals on official figures, but connections are simply hopeful he will enjoy his switch to this new discipline.
“It’s more to see if he takes to the fences and enjoys them or not,” said Gigginstown’s Eddie O’Leary.
“You never know until they try them and it is important for him to go there and enjoy the experience.”
Another making the switch to the cross-country sphere is Nicky Henderson’s Mister Coffey, while there is further Irish representation provided by Joseph O’Brien’s Busselton and Gavin Cromwell’s Fameaftertheglory, who was third over the fences in December.
