Soccer

Potter wants Betfair Hurdle magic for Tolworth second Jetoile

Jetoile ran his heart out for second in the Tolworth Hurdle behind Constitution Hill and trainer Ryan Potter is hoping he can go one better in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury in February.

A buoyant Ryan Potter is targeting the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury with Jetoile after finishing a game runner-up behind talented novice Constitution Hill on Saturday in the Tolworth Hurdle.

Following modest wins at Chepstow and Leicester, the seven-year-old became Potter's first Grade 1 runner when racing in the Sandown feature.

And while he couldn't live with Nicky Henderson's scorching winner, who is now favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, Potter was rightly proud of his stable star's showing.

He said: "I was delighted with him. The winner is obviously a machine and our horse has run a blinder - I couldn't be happier.
"It was a great day for the team. We always knew he was good enough to run at that level. We were just hoping Constitution Hill wasn't as good as everyone said he was, but he definitely was!
"He came out of it absolutely fine. He didn't actually have a hard race as once Lorcan (Williams, jockey) realised he wasn't going to win, he's only hit him once behind the saddle as he had second sewn up quite easily.
"I'm not sure for definite, but I'd imagine we'll pop an entry in for the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury. Novices have a good record in it and we're probably going to go up in the handicap, so we should get in off a low weight.
"He'll probably have an entry for Cheltenham, but I'd imagine we'll avoid that and wait for Aintree."

Potter is champing at the bit to see what Jetoile can do next term when sent over timber.

He added: "Whatever he does this season is a bonus - he's a chaser in the making.
"Lorcan got off him on Saturday and said 'this lad is going to be unbelievable when he goes chasing' - that will be his game.
"We're just trying to keep him one piece and keep him in the yard - hopefully nobody tries to buy him!"

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