The progressive Calva D’auge looks to hold leading claims of providing in-form trainer Paul Nicholls with another winner in the 2m 2f Grade 2 Premier Kelso Hurdle for novices on Saturday (14:45).
This ex-French trained five-year-old made a winning debut over the obstacles for the Ditcheat maestro when running on strongly to land a 14-runner contest at Plumpton by 2 3/4 lengths.
That taking success saw Calva D’auge pitched into Listed company at Haydock.
He ran really well in defeat as a five-length runner-up to the highly-regarded Thebannerkingrebel who went on to finish a fine third in a Grade 2 next time up.
The son of Air Chief Marshal then found life too hot when well-beaten fourth to Fiddleronthehoof in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown, before taking advantage of a drop in class to resume winning ways in a class 3 novice contest at Wincanton.
Calva D’auge has since followed-up in gutsy style at Plumpton when finding plenty for pressure to fend off the persistent challenge of Fraser Island by a length.
He had to give the Nicky Henderson trained runner-up 16lb that day, despite being officially rated 3lb his inferior.
It was therefore a cracking effort by Calva D’auge and one which suggested he was well worth a crack at this level.
It has also earned him a rating of 137 – the highest in this seven-runner Premier Kelso Hurdle line-up. Another plus is that Calva D’auge also has proven form on testing ground.
So, with Nicholls operating at an incredible strike rate of just under 40 per cent in the last 14 days at the time of writing, there is nothing not to like about his chances.
Calva D’auge is this taken at 15/8 with SportNation to land the hat-trick.
Side with Saint Xavier in Premier Chase
In the Listed 2m 7f Premier Chase (15:22), Saint Xavier looks value to get the better of Definitly Red and provide Nicholls with a quick-fire big race double.
This David Maxwell owned eight-year-old had some smart form to his name over fences when trained in France, winning twice and finishing fourth to Biploaire in a Grade 1 at Auteuil.
The winner has gone on to record another success at the highest level, whilst the fifth home Bob And Co has won his last two starts in hunter chases after also being bought by Maxwell and sent to join Nicholls.
Saint Xavier has had just three starts. all over hurdles, since joining the champion trainer following 383 days on the sidelines and undergoing wind surgery.
He won the second of those at Kempton in facile fashion when making all to win unchallenged by 36 lengths, and then lost little in defeat last time out at Musselburgh when runner-up to I K Brunel.
Saint Xaxier appears to have been given an easy prep and laid out for this. He receives a handy 2lb from Definitly Red who is rated just 6lb his superior.
Given that Brian Ellison’s 11-year-old is fully exposed, it means that the much younger Saint Xavier doesn’t have much to find and makes him a fascinating contender.
Therefore, at odds of 13/2 with William Hill, Saint Xavier looks worth siding with to land this valuable prize.
Black Pirate taken to plunder more glory
Black Pirate looks worth siding with to cash-in on what looks a lenient mark and land the spoils 2m 6f Timeform Handicap Hurdle (15:57).
This James Ewart trained eight-year-old won his first two starts in bumpers at Wetherby and Ayr in the manner of an above average sort.
He then ran very well under a penalty when a 3 3/4 lengths second of 15 to Sebastopol at Ayr.
Black Pirate was attempting to give the winner, who is now rated 142 over hurdles, 10lb and the race has thrown-up subsequent winners.
In hindsight it was an impossible task. Black Pirate comes into this unbeaten in two starts over the obstacles following a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
The last of those successes came over 2m at this venue where the son of Black Sam Bellamy stayed on gamely to beat Ebony Jewel by a neck.
Judged on that, the step up in trip will suit and Black Pirate now makes his handy debut off an opening mark of 127.
That could seriously underestimate his ability judged on his aforementioned bumper run behind Sebastopol.
The fact that connections also entered him for the Grade 2 Premier Kelso Hurdle on this card shows that he is clearly held in high regard.
Black Pirate is also unexposed and open to plenty more progression, and has proven form on soft ground.
He has the services of Brian Hughes in the saddle, who is 2-2 on him and has a fine strike rate of 27 per cent when teaming up with the yard in the last 12 months.
So, Black Pirate is therefore a strong fancy to land this en route to better things.
