Calgary set to click

CALGARY BAY (trained by Henrietta Knight): One of last season’s better novice hurdlers, but a real chasing type who ran as well as could be expected on his fencing debut at Doncaster.
A one-length second to the more experienced I’msingingtheblues is top form and, as horses from this stable always improve for their first runs of the season, Calgary Bay will surely go one better soon.

Given normal improvement throughout the season, the strapping Calgary Bay could well become an Arkle Chase contender.


DREAMY SWEENEY (Nicky Henderson): It is not often that novice hurdlers from the Henderson stable go off at 40-1, but that’s what happened with this fellow in the Cheltenham contest won by the promising Karabak.

The son of Supreme Leader, winner of a point to point in Ireland, was in the process of running a huge race when brought down two hurdles from home.

He had not been popped a serious question and, while he may not have beaten more fancied rivals, he clearly has lots of ability and can win a race in the near future.



JOE JO STAR (Richard Fahey): Bought for only 6,000 guineas after running in selling company, this son of Piccolo made a mockery of that purchase price when bolting up in a quite valuable handicap hurdle at Musselburgh.

The decent ground and sharp track proved ideal for a horse with stamina limitations but, if his shrewd stable can find a similar race under a penalty, Joe Jo Star will take the world of beating.


LATERLY (Tom Tate): Finished fourth to stable companion West With The Wind at Doncaster, but took quite a strong hold and will do better if learning to settle.

This was a decent juvenile hurdle by Doncaster standards and it will be interesting to see if Laterly can step up on this promising effort.

He needs just one more run to earn a handicap, after which a visit to a sharp track could see him in a better light.


STAR DE MOHAISON (Paul Nicholls): Winner of the Royal and SunAlliance Novices’ Chase at the 2006 Cheltenham Festival, Star De Mohaison has been plagued by leg trouble since but has been nursed back to fitness by his trainer.
The seven-year-old had been running over hurdles since his injury, but was switched back to fences at Cheltenham and ran a blinder to be second to Mon Mome (received 18 pounds) with the rest of a decent field of handicap chasers miles behind.

This effort, under a big weight, was not that far short of Gold Cup standard and, with slight doubts over the well-being of stable companions Denman and Kauto Star, Star De Mohaison could easily force his way into the equation for steeplechasing’s blue riband.