Paul Nicholls shares his thoughts on his four runners at Aintree on Saturday – as Caldwell Potter makes his debut for the trainer in the Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle


  • Caldwell Potter has been primed for Aintree race since joining in January
  • Monmiral will wear blinkers again after his impressive Festival run

Trainer Paul Nicholls will seek to finish on a high on Grand National Day at Aintree.

Record buy Caldwell Potter makes his debut for the trainer in the Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle.

Here, the Betfair ambassador shares his thoughts on his four runners at Aintree on Saturday.

Aintree

13:20 – Red Risk

I’ve kept him for this race since his last run at Haydock two months ago and he goes well fresh, though he has found life tougher since he was chinned by a whisker in the Lanzarote Hurdle on deep ground at Kempton in January last year. 

Trainer Paul Nicholls will seek to finish on a high on Grand National Day at Aintree

Trainer Paul Nicholls will seek to finish on a high on Grand National Day at Aintree 

So it makes sense to make use of Freddie Gingell’s 5lbs claim which is great value.

13:20 – Monmiral

He’s been raised 6lbs to a mark of 144 after his excellent victory in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham. 

While I thought he had a sporting chance that day I didn’t expect him to win like he did. He has always had loads of ability and won the Grade 1 four year old hurdle at this track three years ago. 

But he hasn’t taken to chasing and it was brilliant to see him bounce back over hurdles at the Festival in first time blinkers which he will wear again at Aintree. He seems to have come out of that race in good order.

13:55 – Caldwell Potter

He is an exciting horse for the future, a chaser in the making, and he didn’t run at Cheltenham because I wanted to give him more time to acclimatise after we bought him at a dispersal sale in February in Ireland. 

He doesn’t show a lot at home but he’s settled in nicely, has done plenty of schooling, jumps great, and I’m sure he wants this step him up in trip to two and a half miles. 

I’m still learning about Caldwell Potter who has done all his winning on testing ground. I can’t wait to see him run for his new owners.

Caldwell Potter makes his debut for the trainer in the Turners Mersey Novices' Hurdle

Caldwell Potter makes his debut for the trainer in the Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle

17:35 – Sorceleur

He’s progressive, ran with much promise when third in a Listed bumper at Cheltenham on New Year’s day and won his bumper easily by fifteen lengths from the front at Taunton on his latest start. 

While he is going the right way and has earned a shot at this valuable race he does have to improve on what he has achieved so far. I’d say he has a nice each way chance.

Best chance

13:55 – Caldwell Potter. His form in Ireland was smart and I’ve had this race in mind for him since he joined us early in February.



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