Friday afternoon saw the latest racecourse appearance of one of the most talked about Novice chasers in training, as the Paul Nicholls inmate Caldwell Potter lined up on the opening day of the Cheltenham Christmas meeting.
Sired by Martaline, a full brother to Grade 1 winner Mighty Potter and a half-brother to French Dynamite and Brighterdaysahead, Caldwell Potter was always likely to fetch a handsome sum at the sales.
A World Record Sale
The fee was €200,000 when the good-looking grey first went under the hammer at the Goffs Landrover NH (stores) sale in July 2021. Subsequently beaten in three of his four outings in Bumpers, connections may have questioned the wisdom of their purchase. However, the horse proved an altogether different proposition when sent over hurdles.
Initially based with Gordon Elliott, Caldwell Potter won two of three outings over the smaller obstacles, culminating in a 6½l thrashing of the field in the Grade 1 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at the 2023 edition of the Leopardstown Christmas Meeting. Then followed a second trip to the sales ring.
Caldwell Potter sells for €740,000 at @Tattersalls_ie!
Watch live on our YouTube page here
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 5, 2024
Now boasting an impressive pedigree and racecourse form to match, Caldwell Potter was the main draw at the Tatts Ire A & G Brown Dispersal in February 2024. Whilst expected to comfortably top the sale, the six-year-old went further than that, with the €740,000 fee representing a new world record for a National Hunt horse sold at public auction.
From Cullentra House to Ditcheat
Now in the hands of a consortium including Sir Alex Ferguson, the new owners relocated Caldwell Potter from the Cullentra House operation of Gordon Elliott to Paul Nicholls’ Ditcheat base.
Fast forward to 1st December 2024, and the horse made his eagerly anticipated yard and chase debut in a Class 3 Novice event at Carlisle. Sent off at prohibitive odds of 2/11, the mount of Harry Cobden proved a class apart from the opposition on his way to a comfortable 5l success.
Wheels Come Off in SSS Super Alloys
A step up in class beckoned on the back of that Carlisle stroll, with the SSS Super Alloys Novices’ Chase identified as a suitable next step for the rising star. Whilst “only” a Class 2 affair, this 2m4½f contest has fallen to talents such as Ginny’s Destiny, Whisper, More Of That, and Oscar Whisky in the past decade. Could Caldwell Potter add his name to the list as he continues his journey to Grade 1 company?
In short, no, he couldn’t. Setting out to make the running, he continued to lead until the second last, at which point those who took the 11/10 odds may have known their fate. Coming under a vigorous ride as Jango Baie loomed up on the outside, he then clattered the final flight before fading into a 13l third.
SSS Super Alloys Novices’ Chase Result
| Position | Horse | SP | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Jango Baie | 7/4 | – |
| 2nd | Springwell Bay | 13/2 | +6½ Lengths |
| 3rd | Caldwell Potter | 11/10 | +6½ (13) Lengths |
| 4th | Deafening Silence | 8/1 | +27 (40) Lengths |
| 5th | Ballymackie | 200/1 | +44 (84) Lengths |
Whilst disappointing at first glance, there are possible excuses for this effort. Firstly, this represented Caldwell Potter’s first outing beyond 2m. Secondly, the good to soft ground may have been against a horse whom Harry Cobden suggested could be a soft ground specialist following his Carlisle victory. Down in trip on softer ground, he may yet fulfil his potential over fences.
As for the Nicky Henderson-trained winner, this was a mightily impressive chase debut by Jango Baie. Successful in Grade 1 company over hurdles, he may be a force to reckon with at the major spring festivals. He’s into 12/1 for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase following this near-flawless performance and could easily go shorter still.
