Caldwell Potter and connections© Photo Healy Racing
Caldwell Potter s stamina really came to the fore in attritional conditions at Leopardstown as he took a big step up in class in the Grade 1 novice hurdle over two miles.
He was last seen winning a maiden hurdle on heavy ground at Navan just another three weeks ago, and he encountered more testing ground here.
Jack Kennedy raced him close to the pace and the pair took over on the run to the penultimate flight. Predators Gold and Patrick Mullins were soon hot on their heels, but the leader began to crank up the pressure approaching the home bend.
The pursuer crashed through the final flight when three lengths adrift and that pretty much cooked his chance. Caldwell Potter was in no mood to relent on the run-in and ground it out forcefully by six and a-half lengths at 6/1. Predators Gold had to settle for second at 4/1. There was a whopping gap of 38 lengths back to Caldwell Potter's stablemate Down Memory Lane (5/2) in third.
Gordon Elliott said: “Jack just kept it simple, and he said he loved the ground. He galloped them into the ground. He’s a nice horse and loved the conditions.
“I wasn’t surprised as he won well in Navan. We’ll enjoy today and then have a think about where we go next.
“I could see him stepping up in trip at some stage."
Kennedy added: "I was (confident he would handle conditions today) and once I saw all the rain coming, I really fancied him. I thought he would take plenty of beating and he proved us right.
"Handy away, he stays really well. He is probably a horse you will see over further in time, so he was able to put horses under pressure on that ground.
"Obviously, his brother (Mighty Potter) was a very talented horse and so is his (half) sister (Brighterdaysahead). They are a great family, so hopefully we keep having luck with them."
Paddy Power gave Caldwell Potter a first show of 8/1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
