Paul Nicholls is considering the Lightning Novices’ Chase at the Windsor Berkshire Winter Million meeting for Caldwell Potter as the grey continues to develop over fences.
The Grade Two event, scheduled for January 17 over two miles, offers an ideal opportunity to keep Caldwell Potter on left-handed tracks and provide the soft ground Nicholls believes suits him best.
Caldwell Potter recently finished third at Cheltenham behind Nicky Henderson’s Jango Baie, gaining valuable experience in a competitive field.
“He got the experience we wanted, and his jumping was fantastic,” Nicholls shared in his Betfair Ditcheat Diary. “He clearly needs softer ground, and I’m not yet convinced what his ideal trip is. Over two miles on very soft ground, I think he’d be more effective, but it’s still a learning curve, and there’s more to come from him.”
Nicholls also noted that opportunities for Caldwell Potter are limited due to his preference for left-handed tracks, which makes the Windsor meeting an appealing target.
Nicholls also reflected on the performances of Stage Star and Il Ridoto in the December Gold Cup, where both runners found themselves disadvantaged by their current handicap marks.
“Il Ridoto ran well, and Olive [Nicholls] gave him a lovely ride to finish sixth,” Nicholls said. “But the 11lb rise for his Paddy Power Gold Cup win has made things tough for him. He’s had a couple of hard races now, so we’ll freshen him up for something in the spring, maybe at the Festival.”
Regarding Stage Star, who carried a top weight of 12th at Cheltenham, Nicholls is exploring alternative options, likely outside handicaps.
“Carrying 12th in these handicaps is hard work,” he explained. “Something like the Denman Chase at Newbury or the Fleur De Lys Chase at Windsor, left-handed and not a handicap, might suit him better. No definite plans yet, but he’s tricky to place right now.”
With both Caldwell Potter and his seasoned campaigners, Nicholls is charting paths that align with their individual strengths as the season progresses.