HARRY WHITTINGTON BLOG: Harry Whittington, Grade One-winning trainer and BETDAQ Brand Ambassador, chats about his two winners last week, reflects upon his Cheltenham runs, and also shares his thoughts on the National Hunt Chase controversy.

A great week

We’ve had another great week with two winners and we are now just one win away from the yard’s 100th! We’re in a bit of a purple patch at the moment, which is really encouraging with so much big racing still to come. Fingers crossed we can keep it going!

Djin Conti kicked it off in style with a game win at Southwell. He’s got plenty of ability, but doesn’t always try so it was great to see him stick it out. He’s taken to fences really well so let’s hope he can keep improving.

As good as he was, the performance of the week has to be Khage at Chepstow on Wednesday.

It was by far the best of his career so far, mainly because he showed us that he does have genuine class. We thought he did and it’s brilliant that he’s shown us what’s under the bonnet.  I was slightly disappointed with his previous run at Ffos Las, so for him to come out and win like he did was a real thrill for us all.

As I’ve always stated, whatever he does over hurdles is a bonus because we’ve always seen him as a chaser. He’s made for fences and based on his schooling over them at home, we could have a pretty exciting sort on our hands.

Happy enough with Cheltenham runs

For the majority of both races, I was happy with the way Saint Calvados and Bigmartre ran at Cheltenham.

I don’t think we went too quick with Saint Calvados and Gavin [Sheehan] felt the addition of cheek pieces really improved his jumping. At the top of the hill, he was traveling great and it was very exciting. Unfortunately, he faded a bit towards the home bend and once he got back in he was pretty tired.

Gavin reported he made a little noise coming down the back and he’s pretty convinced that’s the reason he hasn’t been finishing off his races. I’m adamant that’s the reason too and tests have confirmed it, so he’s booked into have it fixed and I’m confident that will sort things out.

We often forget he’s only a six-year-old, so he’s got plenty of miles left on the clock. I don’t think a break will do him any harm at all and while his next run will likely be over two miles, we are still undecided whether we’ll step him up in trip in the future.

We switched tactics with Bigmartre and for the most part they seemed to work. He looked like he was enjoying himself again and it was just unfortunate that he got impeded slightly at the first fence down the back. That seemed to knock his confidence a bit meaning he lost his position, which in a race as competitive as that, is always challenging to reclaim.

He’s come out of the race well, with all roads leading to the Topham at Aintree in a couple of weeks’ time.

The handicapper has dropped him a couple of pounds to 142, which looks well within his capabilities, so I guess it’s just up to whether he’ll handle the National fences. He’s a very capable jumper and based on what he’s shown us in the past, I think he’ll love them.

Quiet weekend

We’ve got a couple of runners at Newbury on Saturday.

Brandy James takes his chance in the handicap hurdle (2.40pm).

He’s been a real joy for his owners so far having failed to finish out of the first four on any of his starts for the yard. We put a hood on him last time and I thought he put in a much better performance.

He’s been crying out for a step up in trip and hopefully he can run a good race off his current mark. I’d be hopeful he can outrun his odds.

Honourmission runs in the novices’ hurdle (4.25pm) and this will be another learning experience for him. We’ll know more about him after this and will then be able to plan what we do with him afterwards.

National Hunt Chase controversy

I think a lot of credit must be given to AP McCoy for standing up in what he believed in on ITV. Someone needed to stand up and say this is wrong and he’s represented both jockeys and trainers. I’m in total agreement with what he said and hopefully his views get through to the BHA.

It’s clear we all need to pull together and get some unity. I just hope the BHA listen to our views and take them on board so that we can move together in a positive way.

For me, it just doesn’t make any sense that those in charge of welfare don’t know anything about racing. There are horsemen in the BHA doing other jobs and they are the ones who need to be managing the welfare-side of things.

The National Hunt Chase is a fabulous race which has been a part of the Cheltenham Festival for many years. In my eyes, it doesn’t break any welfare rules and it’s madness to be considering removing it. This is National Hunt racing, there’s always an element of risk.

My worry is that if we get rid of the National Hunt Chase, it could lead to other races being removed which will be very damaging to the sport.

Bryony and Rachael

The performances of Bryony Frost and Rachael Blackmore at Cheltenham just show there is nothing stopping anyone achieving anything whether your male or female. Both women are incredible jockeys and they are generating hugely positive publicity for racing.

Based on Rachael’s season so far, I really don’t think we are far away from seeing a female Champion Jockey.