Connections expect big Brave run

Connections of Calling Brave will be “bitterly disappointed” if he fails to make the frame in Sunday’s Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton.

A smart performer over hurdles, Calling Brave is proving even better over fences, having won his three completed starts last season before unseating when in contention in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.

Nicky Henderson pitched him in against some smart company on his reappearance at Sandown earlier this month, where he finished second to Colonel Frank giving him 10lb.

He finished ahead of Boxing Day rival Lord Sam though which prompted firms to slash him to around 7-1 for the big race.

“It was a decent performance last time, you have to look at the other horses who finished around him, like Lord Sam and Murphy’s Cardinal,” said Barry Simpson, racing manager to owner Sir Robert Ogden.

“You can take positives and negatives out of it though. On the minus side he did not win it but on the plus side all the others, who were all second-season novices, have run well and we were all giving weight to a decent horse.”

The gelding has done his final major piece of work before the three-mile showpiece and Simpson believes that although he is still fairly inexperienced in terms of chase outings, his victory in a novice event at the Sunbury track last February should stand him in good stead.

“He is very well, and has been kept in the same routine. He worked last Saturday and worked again yesterday

“He will just have a bit of a blast up the gallops before the race but is a very fit horse, he is not stuffy, and if we hadn’t got the work into him by now, he would not be ready to run.

“I would not be worried that he has only had five runs over fences as he jumps well, will be suited by the strong gallop and has won at Kempton before.

“It all depends on the final field, but we go into the race in good form. He is the third favourite and we would be bitterly disappointed if he was not in the top three.”