Harry Whittington thrilled to have old favourite Saint Calvados home again

Harry Whittington will saddle a runner under rules for the first time since 2023 at Carlisle on Sunday having been reunited with old favourite Saint Calvados.

Now a 12-year-old, Saint Calvados was one of the early stars of Whittington’s time in the training ranks, winning the Kingmaker Novices’ Chase as a five-year-old before also taking a Grade Three in Ireland and agonisingly falling short when beaten a neck by Min in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2020.

The gelding moved to Paul Nicholls in 2021 and while in training at Ditcheat changed ownership to popular owner-rider David Maxwell, with the gelding subsequently switching stables again to join Louisa Carberry in France in late 2023.

However, Whittington’s fondness of his former stable star never waned and a chance meeting with Maxwell resulted in Saint Calvados’ journey going full circle and returning to his Oxfordshire base.

Rejuvenated by his old guv’nor, Saint Calvados was a winner between the flags at Alnwick in January and will now appear in the Cocklakes Open Hunters’ Chase that concludes the weekend’s Carlisle action.

“It’s great to have him back, I was always very fond of the horse and had always mentioned to David through various people that I would love to have him in retirement,” explained Whittington.

“It just so happened that I bumped into him at Sandown a year ago and mentioned again that I’d love to have him back if he was willing. We got talking about point-to-pointing and David said it made sense for me to just have him back and he came back to me a week later.

“When he arrived he had a small injury he had picked up in France and I rehabilitated him and did a few things to help a 12-year-old get his mojo back.

“I’ve taken him hunting quite a few times in the winter and then went and won a point up north in January and we’re having a bit of fun with him basically.

“He will go to Carlisle on Sunday and we’ve enjoyed point-to-pointing, but right now I only have him.”

Whittington – who tasted Cheltenham Festival success with Simply The Betts and Grade One glory with Arzal – relinquished his licence at the end of the 2022-23 season to focus solely on the pre-training aspect of his business.

And despite the return of Saint Calvados to add a little spice to his day-to-day, he has zero regrets about the decision to reevaluate priorities at his Hill Barn Stables.

Whittington said: “I have a full yard of horses in pre-training and it works very well for me. I couldn’t be happier with how that has gone and it has been incredible the support I have had from various people and we have been inundated.

“It’s just lovely to have the yard brimming and full again and we’ve had more horses than we’ve ever had this winter. We’re well set up for it and it was a very good decision and easy transition back to doing it.

“However, to have Saint Calvados here to ride first lot before the pre-trainers has been really enjoyable. He lives out in the field behind my office and he will probably stay here in retirement which is great.”