Successful former National Hunt horse Saint Calvados secured an “emotional” victory for his connections, almost three years after his last victory in the Grade Two Oaksey Chase at Sandown.
After training Saint Calvados under Rules, Harry Whittington, who specialises in pre-training these days, has enjoyed the winner’s enclosure once again, this time in point-to-points.
The 12-year-old Saint Calvados, who has won over £400,000 in races including two Grade Two and one Grade Three wins, showed his talent remains when winning the 2m 4f men’ s open under Nick Orpwood at the Percy meeting at Alnwick, Northumberland, yesterday (26 January).
“It was very emotional,” said Harry, who last sent this son of Saint Des Saints out in February 2021 before the horse was moved to Paul Nicholls by his former owners, Kate and Andrew Brooks. “I don’t think I ever cried when he won previously, but I definitely did today. It’s so nice to have him back.
“I said to his owner, David Maxwell, that I’d love to have him in retirement and he sent him to me a year ago. I’ve been hunting him most of this winter and he absolutely loves it.
“My staff call him King Calvados because he is on every supplement going and there’s no stone left unturned to keep him looking great. He looked his old self going through the race and never saw a rival.”
The gelding is Harry’s only pointer, and gets a lot of attention at Harry’s Lambourn base.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
“I ride him out first lot and then he goes in the field all day,” added Harry. “He takes the pre-trainers out round the grass gallops and loves it. He is very special to us.”
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Former web features editor, point-to-point editor and digital racing editor
Gemma is an experienced journalist, who was a member of H&H staff from 2014 to September 2025. She is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at Epsom in August 2018. Gemma’s has reported from numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.
