Fisher seeking to net G1 Glory
Mister Fisher bids to go where no horse has galloped before and become the first to carry the familiar red, white and green silks of James and Jean Potter Ltd to Grade One victory in the Betfair Ascot Chase on Saturday.
But where did it all begin 🧐 …
Rewind the clock back 30 years or so and the mission to attain glory at the top level first really gained momentum on 2nd August 1991 when General Pershing, a previous winner of a mile and a half Maiden flat race at Catterick in 1989, won on his Chase debut in the Ansells Wales Novices’ Chase at Bangor-on- Dee under the private ownership of a certain Mr JE Potter. The son of Persian Bold would go on to win a further nine races in the now well known Potter silks including success in the 1993 Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby not to mention many excellent placed efforts. A third to Bradbury Star in the G3 Mackeson Gold Cup (now the Paddy Power Gold Cup), at Cheltenham, fourth to subsequent Gold Cup winner Master Oats in the Greenalls Gold Cup (best known as the Racing Post Chase) at Kempton, a second to Grand National winner Minnehoma in a G2 at Haydock before winning his final race, at Kempton, under Adrian Maguire for David (the Duke) Nicholson on 21st February 1997.
Then, of course, there’s Mountainous who won the 2013 Coral Welsh Grand National in the Potter silks before being sold to new connections and then bagging a second Welsh National three years later, (the less said about that the better!) so it’s not hard to see why, after trying for so many years, a Grade One victory would mean everything - not just for the Potter family and their business interests but to everyone in Wales! 🏴
There’s no doubt this year’s G1 Ascot Chase is fiercely competitive and there has been plenty of money around all week for Fakir D’Oudairies who is now clear favourite ahead of Saint Calvados, Fanion D’Estruval and our very own Mister Fisher who are all co-second favourites. As you will be fully aware, there has been plenty of rain around which is far from ideal but ‘Jezza’ did win the G2 Peterborough Chase and his novice chase, both at Cheltenham, on ground officially described as Soft and as he reaches his prime there’s hope he may cope with softer conditions better than in his younger days.
It could be an historical day all round if Mister Fisher does bag the number one prize because his jockey James Bowen is also seeking a first win at the top table and the Welshman has been an integral part of the success story so far. Mister Fisher provided the then fledgling rider with his initial Graded success when scoring in the G2 Rossington Main Hurdle at Haydock in 2019, so it’s fair to say the combination have a fair amount of history together already!
All we can ask for is that horse and jockey both come back in one piece; however, if they do come home in front, it might be a good idea for the team at Ascot to start seeking quotes for a new roof to their grandstand!
Newbury Sunday
Patroclus flies the flag for Potter Group in the Racing TV Novices’ Limited H’cap Chase at Newbury on Sunday and, having literally just got off the phone from his trainer Nicky Henderson, the vibes are sounding very positive that the son of Shirocco can retain the winning thread after a gutsy performance at Leicester last time. In fact, if you’ve not yet seen it, head across to https://potters.co.uk/potter-group-racehorses/patroclus where you’ll find race replays, jockey interviews and winning reaction from his groom and rider Rachel McMahon along with much more content and info on all of the horses who represent Potter Group and James & Jean Potter Ltd.
While you’re there why not have a look at the whole site which has all the information required concerning Canter Carpet, Potters Waste Management & Recycling and Property.
In other news…
Mario De Pail has been away to jumping school at Henrietta Knight’s after a rather disappointing effort at Chepstow last time when the fences just seemed to get in the way! He’s a horse with an immense amount of talent but things haven’t really gone smoothly since scoring at Wetherby in November 2020. However, if you check out the videos on our Instagram (POTTERGROUPRACING) and Twitter (@PotterGRacing) pages you’ll see the amount of improvement he has made in such a short space of time.
Potterman (James & Jean Potter Ltd) is doing really well down at Alan King’s base in Marlborough and the son of Sulamani ex Polly Potter is due to head to Kempton next Saturday for the Coral Trophy Handicap Chase, known to many as the (old) Racing Post Chase, before a crack at ‘winning’ his second Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown. It would be nice if he were to win it on merit rather than under the controversial circumstances twelve months ago!
While chatting to Mr King, he was particularly complimentary about our five year old homebred gelding by Pethers Moon out of Karla June who has recently joined his stable. He’s done plenty of early work with Tom Gretton but is now in full training and there was quite a twinkle in the eye of his trainer when explaining what he’s showing on the gallops, so watch this space!
Stolen Silver (Potter Group & Walters Plant Hire) was given a short break after his most recent run at Wincanton but is back in full training with Sam Thomas who hopes to have him ready for Cheltenham next month. He’s quite a free going sort at home and takes a bit of knowing but the team at Thomas’s base have done a great job with him and we are looking forward to a fruitful spring campaign with him on decent ground.
After a disappointing effort at Cheltenham on New Years Day Mot A Mot has undergone a wind operation and appears to be doing well. We’re in no rush but when he’s ready, hopefully he can get his career back on track because we know he has oodles of potential.
Baby Love ❤️
The first foal of 2022 was born at Leighton Farm on Sunday evening at 9:20pm. A stunning son of Yorton Farm Stud sire Masterstroke, who consequently sired Has Troke to score at Fontwell on Thursday, out of Sting In The Gale. Both mother and baby are doing well and we await more births over what will be a very busy few months ahead.
