SPARSHOLT trainer Harry Whittington cannot wait to run Saint Calvados in the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on December 8 after his rising star lowered Footpad’s colours in the Poplar Square Chase at Naas.
The five-year-old produced an exhibition round of jumping from the front under Gavin Sheehan in the Grade 3 contest to reverse Arkle Trophy running in style.
Saint Calvados held a three-length lead at the last, where Footpad slithered badly and fell leaving Whittington’s charge to coast home by four and a half lengths from Tycoon Prince.
The trainer, who was recording his first winner in Ireland, said: “He’ll go for the Tingle Creek next and I’m looking forward to him going over the Railway fences there. He was just a bit rusty over the first couple, but it was a good performance.
“You can just draw a line through the Arkle now, and he’s probably silenced the doubters. He’s come back and done it well.
“He’s a proper two-miler, and Gavin felt he was just hacking round. He’s only going to get better with age, as he’s still a big, raw horse and only five. It’s very exciting.”
Blewbury trainer Noel Williams may put plans to send Drunken Pirate jumping on hold after the five-year-old claimed a National Hunt Flat Race at Newbury in taking fashion under Tom Garner.
He said: “The idea was to go hurdling, but we might have to put our heads together and go for a better bumper.”
Heather Main sent runners on the 556-mile round trip from her Kingston Lisle stables to Newcastle twice in three days, and her enterprise paid off with wins for 28-1 shot Mostawaa, ridden by Ellie Mackenzie, and Island Glen, with David Egan on board.
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