HARRY WHITTINGTON BLOG: Harry Whittington, Grade One-winning trainer and ambassador for market-leading betting exchange BETDAQ, previews his weekend runners at Huntingdon, Doncaster, Uttoxeter and Newcastle.
We haven’t had any horses out over the past seven days mainly because of the quick ground. It’s obviously pretty frustrating to not be able to run anything, but I don’t actually mind too much as it gives the horses a sort of mid-season break. It tends to freshen them up and it means they are ready to go ahead of the spring.
It’s back to business this weekend though and I’m hopeful a number will run well.
Weekend runners
We kick things off with Court Liability in the Pertemps qualifier (3.15pm) at Huntington on Friday. The race has cut up a bit and he really needs to be going well in it in order to have a chance in the Final at Cheltenham.
He has improved each time he’s run for us and he looks to have the right profile for the race in March. It’s a step up again and he’s up eight pounds, but I’m pretty hopeful its within his capabilities.
His work at home has been good, but he only does what he needs to and he’s just so laid back so it’s hard to know quite how good he is. The tell-tale sign though is his form, with the only horse beating him in his career so far being Battleoverdoyen, the now second favourite for the Ballymore at Cheltenham.
Based on that, you’d have to pretty hopeful he’s a fair bit better than his current mark of 132.
Djin Conti takes his chance at Doncaster in the closing handicap hurdle (4.15pm) on the same day.
He’ll be much more at home on the better ground here and we now know he stays the trip too. He’s in really good form at home and I’d like to think he’ll run a big race.
Dara’s Present runs in a maiden hurdle (1.40pm) at Uttoxeter on Saturday. We’ve always seen him as a proper chaser in the making so these races are a bit of a bonus. Hopefully he’ll run a nice race before starting his chasing career later in the season.
In the mares’ handicap chase, The King’s Baby makes her second start for the yard. She made a noise on debut at Sandown, so has had a wind-op since. This will be her first start over fences and she seems to go better over the bigger obstacles.
The trip might be stretch her stamina slightly, but I’m not overly worried. There aren’t too many options for her so we’ll take our chance and see how we go.
I was pleased with Carole’s Vigilante debut for the yard at Ffos Las last month and he should strip much fitter at Uttoxeter on Saturday (4.00pm).
He jumped very well that day, but just got a bit tired towards the end which wasn’t surprising given his lengthy lay-off. I think he could be quite nicely handicapped if he can pull it all together. He should have solid each-way claims.
Rouge Vif has had a very minor set-back, but it shouldn’t change plans too much and at this stage he’s likely to run at Newcastle on Tuesday (4.05pm).
The form of his second at Kempton has been boosted by Mister Fisher’s win at Haydock last weekend and he should go there with a strong chance.
He’ll get a Supreme entry, but that wouldn’t be my first choice as he’s all about speed and I don’t thick Cheltenham would quite play to his strengths. Plan A would be the Dovecote and then Aintree, but plans are very fluid at the moment and we’ll take it one race at a time.
The horse is in a great place, he’s continually improving and if can keep progressing, who knows how far he could go.
Waiting game with Saint Calvados
Finally, looking slightly further ahead, we are still yet to finalise plans for Saint Calvados’ next run. Both the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown and Game Spirit at Newbury are under strong consideration, but we are just waiting to see how each race shapes up before making a final decision.
He’s in super form at home. I couldn’t be much happier with him to be honest and we’re really looking forward to his next outing whether it’s in Ireland or England.
