All eyes will be on Caldwell Potter as he bids to remain unbeaten over fences in the SSS Super Alloys Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on Friday.
The unexposed six-year-old, who won the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on his final outing for Gordon Elliott in December last year, was sent off a 2/11 favourite to make a winning stable and chasing debut at Carlisle.
Paul Nicholls' charge jumped slightly left-handed throughout, but he barely had to be shaken up by Harry Cobden to ease clear of his rivals for an impressive five-length success.
A step up in both distance and class now awaits the son of Martaline, with four rivals standing in his way at Prestbury Park.
"He made a perfect debut for us from the front at Carlisle, jumping well, if a tad left-handed, before stretching clear on the run-in," Nicholls said on his Betfair blog.
"This race is a bit of an afterthought, but there aren't many options for horses like him, so it looks an ideal chance to give him experience over fences round Cheltenham.
"He has been ticking over nicely at home and is ready for the next step up the ladder."
Caldwell Potter now sports the colours of co-owners Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason, John Hales and Peter Done after he became the most expensive jumps horse to be sold at a public auction when going through the ring for €740,000 at Tattersalls Ireland in February.
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has enjoyed a fine run of things in the racing world of late, but he was quick to admit Caldwell Potter was the one that him dreaming of the big time after winning at Carlisle.
In a feature on Sky Sports Racing, Ferguson said: "Caldwell Potter is the one that really took my breath away,"
"He was up for sale in Ireland and John said we may have to go to €600,000 and at that point, I fainted! He then phoned me and said it had gone to 700,000. He said do you want to stay in, and I said well you have taken us this far. He then went for €740,000.
"Gordon Elliott was very kind and wrote a nice letter as he was desperate to keep him and had tried hard going round all the sources he has (to try to keep the horse).
"Fortunately, we got him, and he won his first race for us. He looked classy at Carlisle and really took to his fences. I'm hopeful and he has really got me dreaming – at that price he better!"
Although sitting at the top of the market at a general 10/11, Caldwell Potter faces no straightforward task on Friday with Nicky Henderson's Jango Baie, who won the Grade 1 Formby Novices Hurdle before finishing runner-up in three consecutive races last season, as short as 13/8 for his chasing debut.
Speaking on his Unibet blog, the Seven Barrows-based handler said: "He was due to run at Aintree last week, but that was abandoned, so we find ourselves here and I must admit he does appear to face quite a tall order with the likes of Caldwell Potter among the opposition.
"He's schooled well, however, is a point-to-point winner and two-and-a-half around a course like this should suit."
