Classy Bay heading National way
Calgary Bay, sixth in last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup behind Imperial Commander, has been confirmed an intended runner in the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree on April 9, writes Elliot Slater.
Triple Gold Cup-winning trainer Henrietta Knight made the decision following a fine effort by her eight-year-old in chasing home the progressive Wishfull Thinking at Cheltenham recently, staying-on over the two-mile-five-furlong trip and looking to be in good shape. Knight has had the Grand National in mind for some time for Calgary Bay, a horse who is a good jumper and who has the necessary touch of class seen in so many winners of 'the world's greatest steeplechase' over recent years and maybe a good horse to back with a Grand National free bet.
Although an infrequent winner, (he has won just 3 of his 23 career starts), Calgary Bay has consistently run well in decent company. Over timber he was placed in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown then quickly proved himself to be a smart novice chaser, winning the Grade 2 Dipper Novice Chase at Cheltenham in 2009 before being shown to be a touch short of pace over the minimum trip at the top level when only 10th to Forpadydeplasterer in the Arkle Chase a few months later.
A fine win in a Doncaster handicap over three-miles off a rating of 142 in December 2009 saw the Taipan gelding's rating jump to 153, after which he took his chance in the Gold Cup and was far from disgraced in finishing sixth. This term, having been dropped back to his winning mark at Doncaster a year before, Knight's charge had run well behind Poquelin prior to his good effort at Cheltenham last time out.
He will not run again before Aintree and is generally on offer for the big race at ante-post odds of 33/1.
