Calgary Bay follows in Best Mate’s hoofprints
Triple Gold Cup hero Best Mate was five years old, the same age as Calgary Bay is now, when finishing second to Monsignor in the Grade One contest at the Esher track in 2000.
He then went on to take second place in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival – a race which is also the objective for Calgary Bay.
“We were looking for an easy race in January but there aren’t too many easy races anywhere,” said Knight. “He’s got to go well on Saturday if he’s able to go to Cheltenham or not.
“If he’s not good enough for the Festival he doesn’t go.
“We ran Best Mate in the Sandown race on the way to Cheltenham and it gives you a bit of a pointer.”
Calgary Bay opened his hurdles account at the second attempt when successful at Cheltenham last month. “We’ve not done that much with him since. He finds the jumping part of it pretty straight forward – he’s really a chaser anyway,” added the trainer.
Brendan Powell is likely to wait until Thursday before deciding whether to run Psychomodo in the Tolworth.
The gelding also holds an entry in the partybets.com Handicap Hurdle over the same extended two miles on the same card.
“I’m not sure which one he’ll go for yet, but he’ll definitely run at Sandown and he’s in good form,” said the Upper Lambourn trainer.
“The idea might be to go chasing after this but I think he’s worth a pop at a big prize first.
“If the ground is testing at Sandown, which it could be, two miles round there would be ideal for him. We’ll probably have a look on Thursday morning and see.”
Psychomodo got off the mark over hurdles at Ascot in November over two and a half miles before failing by just under two lengths to give Lodge Lane 12lb at Fontwell three weeks ago.
