HARRY WHITTINGTON BLOG: Harry Whittington, Grade One-winning trainer and BETDAQ Brand Ambassador, reflects on the week that was, previews his runners this weekend, and provides an update on his Cheltenham hopefuls.
Last Week
It was great to see Khage much more back to himself finishing second at Ffos Las on Tuesday. We can put a line through his run at Fakenham as he needs cut in the ground and the track didn’t suit him either.
He’s still learning and progressing, but we’ve always thought a fair amount of him so we’re just hoping he keeps improving. Chasing is where we’ll really see the best of him and I’d like to think he could be 10 to 15 pounds better over fences than hurdles. We school him over fences at home regularly and he’s a different proposition over the bigger obstacles which bodes extremely well for when he goes novice chasing next season.
I couldn’t have been happier with Stick With Bill’s run later on the Ffos Las card. The winner is held in really high regard so to go down to him by just a length showed how big a run it was.
He’s all heart and just doesn’t give up. If you had a yard of horses with an attitude like his you’d be absolutely laughing! He’s a lot better than what I thought he’d be when we first got him. and He hasn’t shown us much home to suggest he’d be nearly as good as he’s turning out to be.
We’ll put him away now for the season and we’re really looking forward to going novice hurdling with him. He’s a proper horse for the future.
Weekend Runners
I’ve got three runners at Newbury on Friday which is fantastic. It’s my local and favourite track so to have three horses on the same day is a real thrill.
We kick things off with Brandy James in the juvenile hurdle (2.20pm). He’s back off a break which has given him the chance to strengthen up as we thought he was a bit on the weak side. He’s also by Motivator and his tend to get better with age.
He’s been schooling well and although the trip might be on the short side, I’m hopeful the break will bring about some improvement. The track should suit him too and I’d like to think he’ll run a nice race.
Djin Conti makes his first start over fences in the Indulge Chase (4.30pm). He’s a brilliant jumper, but isn’t the most straightforward which has perhaps held him back slightly.
I’ve been really impressed with his jumping at home and I know he’s got ability, he just needs to put it all together. With any luck, the switch to fences might help him do that.
My final runner on Friday is Henrietta Bell in the closing bumper (5.00pm). She ran really well on her debut at Aintree where she didn’t really get the run of the race.
She’s a horse with plenty of speed and has also shown us that she’s got a turn of foot too. She’s a nice little filly and it’s just a shame she’s had a couple of setbacks this year which have halted her progress. It doesn’t look the strongest of races and I’m hopeful she’ll go well in it.
We’re looking forward to running Rouge Vif in the Grade Two novices’ hurdle (3.15pm) at Kelso on Saturday.
He was scheduled to run at Kempton last weekend, but bruised his foot and was very lame on the day of the race which meant there was no chance of running him. He’s been fine this week though, cantering away, and he’s in great form.
The ground and track should be right up his street and while the extra two furlongs is a slight worry, I’m hoping the nature of the track will help that.
You can never be too confident in racing, but I’m pretty hopeful he’ll run a big race.
Cheltenham Runners
My two Cheltenham runners, Saint Calvados and Bigmartre will have a racecourse gallop at Newbury on Sunday. It won’t be anything too strenuous, but it will be nice to get them out and stretching their legs.
This will be the finishing touches ahead of Cheltenham and both are in good form with less than two weeks until the Festival.
It will be very hard to beat Altior in the Champion Chase, but Saint Calvados is a very young horse and there is plenty of scope for improvement. It’s horse racing and you never know what might happen, but we’re looking forward to it and to have a horse as good as him running in a championship race at the Cheltenham Festival is pretty special in it’s own right.
