HARRY WHITTINGTON BLOG: Grade One-winning trainer and ambassador for market-leading betting exchange BETDAQ, provides an update on the yard, including upcoming engagements for Bigmartre and Anemoi.

Speedy Cargo

We were obviously pretty disappointed with the result in the race in which Speedy Cargo ran in at Sedgefield on Tuesday.

It’s just so frustrating because the horse did nothing wrong. He jumped and travelled superbly and made the race his, but just idled jumping the last.

He stayed on again once he was headed, so he’ll obviously improve for a step up in trip, which definitely bodes well for the future.

The horse is clearly still quite babyish, but in the long-term I do see him as a similar type to Vinnie Lewis. With that in mind, I’m looking forward to campaigning him in staying chases next year.

Plenty of runners to look forward to over the weekend

Lantiern kicks us off at Doncaster on Friday (3.25pm). He’s in really good form at home and has come out of the Ascot race really well.

That run pleased us hugely with plenty of well-regarded runners including the winner who has subsequently bolted up in a novice hurdle.

He’s a likeable type, so hopefully he can take a step forward and run a big race on a track that should suit him.

On to Saturday, we’ve got some of our big guns entered, starting with and Anemoi who will run in the novices’ hurdle (12.00pm) at Doncaster under a penalty.

He boasts some really strong form having beaten Pym at Ascot on his last start and he should come on plenty for that run.

The flat track should play to his strengths and hopefully he can do the business.

It looks a nice opportunity for him and if he can keep taking steps forward mentally, he should make into a really nice novice for the season.

Later on the card, Simply The Betts will take his chance in the handicap hurdle (2.15pm).

He was a bit disappointing at Ascot last time, but we think the flatter track of Doncaster should suit him better.

We’re stepping him up significantly in trip and this is a big drop in grade which should make things much easier.

I still think he’s very well handicapped and I’m expecting him to run a big race.

Over at Newbury, we run Bigmartre in the closing handicap chase (3.35pm).

He’s in great form at home and I’ve really freshened him up since the run at Cheltenham which is the key to him.

I’m slightly concerned by the soft conditions as I’ve always said he’s better on good ground, but he’s won on soft ground too and this looks the right race for him.

The horse won very impressively at this meeting last year and with his jumping such an asset we thought he’d be better suited to this race than a handicap chase at Ascot last weekend.

He has six wins on flat tracks, so let’s hope he can make it seven on Saturday.

Ladbrokes Trophy

The feature on the card at Newbury, the Ladbrokes Trophy looks wide-open with a number looking to have genuine chances.

It promises to be really exciting and while I haven’t got a strong view on the race, I’d love to see Ms Parfois win. I’m a big fan of the mare who is tough as old boots and it would be fantastic to see her get her head in front.

Fighting Fifth Hurdle

The big race at Newcastle on Saturday looks a real spectacle with all the big guns standing their ground.

Buveur D’Air is the one they’ve all got to beat. He’s got the form in the book with two Champion Hurdle wins and the track should suit him too.

The last couple of races haven’t quiet gone plan for Samcro and a lot of people don’t think he has the speed for two miles. There’s no doubt he’s got heaps of class and I think he’s very versatile so it’s hard to know what his optimum trip is.

There are few horses that can make up for a lack of speed with class and Samcro could easily be one of those.

HARRY