Potters Charm will not race again this season, with connections deliberating whether to stay over hurdles or switch to novice chasing next term.
Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, the six-year-old won his first four starts over hurdles, including the Grade One Formby Novices’ Hurdle on Boxing Day, but has not hit those heights in two starts since.
A somewhat surprise defeat on Festival Trials day was followed up by a fifth-placed finish at the Cheltenham Festival itself in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle, and his team are satisfied he has done enough for the season having begun hurdling in September.
The Twiston-Davies’ now intend to school Potters Charm over the larger obstacles before deciding on whether to target the staying hurdling division next season or embark on a novice chasing campaign.
“I thought he ran a really nice race in the Turners and it was quite well documented that he had an interrupted preparation after his poor run on Trials day, but I don’t think he disgraced himself at all,” said Willy Twiston-Davies, assistant trainer to his father.
“Sam (Twiston-Davies) said he didn’t quite feel the horse he was at the beginning of the season and I think next year we will campaign him a little bit more lightly.
“That’s him definitely done for the season and he’s had two runs where he hasn’t been at his best, so we don’t think we need to have another run.
“He’s obviously still a very talented horse and I don’t know if we’ll target the staying hurdle division next year or go chasing, but he does jump very well. We’ll probably give him a pop over fences in the next few weeks and then make a decision.”