WATCH MY SAINT GO MARCHING IN

SAINT CALVADOS (1.15) is my sole ride at Newbury on today.

The heavy ground has led to small fields and the weather has prompted numerous abandonments, which means it’s been a quiet enough spell for me.

I may only have one ride, but Saint Calvados is a horse with a future.

He makes his British debut in the Betfred “Racing’s Biggest Supporter” Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.

He has some very good form in France and he has been going nicely at home. I have been impressed with him and this looks a great opportunity.

This is his first run over fences – although French imports are generally good jumpers – and he has no experience of British racing, so there are unknowns.

We’ll learn a lot more after this but I can only offer a positive report on what I’ve seen so far.

I’m at Uttoxeter for two Anthony Honeyball-trained runners tomorrow.

SHAPIRO (3.30) should come on for his debut sixth at Ffos Las and runs in the mares’ bumper, while Anthony has only had MOZO (3.00) for two runs but hopefully she can also build on what she’s shown in the Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice Handicap Hurdle.

I can’t be overly confident but they should both run well and Anthony’s horses are flying.

Unfortunately, Anthony’s really promising novice Fountains Windfall, pictured left, fell in the 32Red Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on Boxing Day.

He was giving me a really great spin and, up to his fall four out, had jumped brilliantly.

I know that might sound strange given he has fallen on his last two runs. The first fall at Newbury was very soft and he had showed no ill-effects – and then it was a very novicey fall at Kempton.

Hopefully, his confidence won’t be dented and Anthony might look for a small-field race to boost his confidence and get back to winning ways. He’s definitely a horse to look forward to.

Might Bite set his stall out as the one they all have to beat in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup, following his King George win on Boxing Day – especially with Sizing John underperforming in Ireland.

I was very impressed as it was a classy renewal. Some might look to crab the form by looking at the proximity of Double Shuffle and Tea For Two, who filled the places.

What I would say is that he saw off the main challengers long before the finish and those placed horses might have just picked up the pieces.

That said, Tea For Two is a good horse and loves Kempton as does Double Shuffle who also improved for the step up in trip.

Thistlecrack caught my eye in fourth. Colin Tizzard said he would improve a lot for his comeback run at Newbury and he did just that.

If he was to take a similar-sized step forward for his next run, then that wouldn’t put him too far behind where he would need to be to take a hand in the Gold Cup.