After his fine third to Altior in the Tingle Creek at Sandown on Saturday, Saint Calvados could be about to step up in trip, to potentially challenge the three-mile division.
In torrid conditions, Saint Calvados did his connections proud when plugging on to finish behind two outstanding two-milers, one of which is the freak of his generation: Altior.
He appeared to be staying on again crossing the line, prompting his trainer Harry Whittingdon to query whether he wants further.
(Credit: Racing UK) Whittingdon said: “He’s absolutely fine, he’s all good. He ran with credit at the end of the day and obviously it was the first time he’d been right-handed.
“He hung a bit left down the back straight and probably got caught out by his inexperience, but he stayed on well to beat Sceau Royal for third place.
“It was a solid effort. He’s still got a very bright future and we’ll probably step him up in trip now."
He added: “We’ll let the dust settle and have a look. There’s a Listed race over two and a half at Kempton in January.
“It will probably be a good thing to take him right-handed down in grade, and then we will just take it from there.”
Prior to his fourth in the Arkle at Cheltenham, Saint Calvados had only ever been beaten once over obstacles, and that came at Auteuil in France for his previous trainer,
He reversed the form with Footpad at Naas in the Poplar Square Chase, and as said, ran with much credit behind arguably the best horse in training on Saturday.