Harry Whittington: breathing issue may be holding Saint Calvados back

Harry Whittington is hoping a full MOT can help get stable star Saint Calvados back on the right track having returned from last week’s Cheltenham Festival with a potential breathing issue.

Since winning a Grade 3 chase at Naas at the start of the season, last year’s Kingmaker Novices’ Chase winner has been beaten a combined 54 lengths in three starts at the highest level, including a seventh-place finish behind Altior in Wednesday’s Champion Chase.

“Gavin Sheehan said he just made a little noise turning down the back at Cheltenham and said we needed to get his wind looked at,” said Whittington.

“He still ran very well for a very long way at Cheltenham but we’ll take him to get him looked at and checked out, and we’ll do what we need to do and go from there.”

Harry Whittington: trainer still retains faith in stable star Saint CalvadosCredit: Alice Whittington

The Lambourn trainer, who was on the mark for Kate and Andrew Brooks, owners of Saint Calvados, when Djin Conti scored at Southwell on Monday, added: “Last season he’d have been able to quicken up off that gallop but this year he seems to just be holding on to something.”

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