Calico
Calico ran better than the bare form of the run suggests in the two-mile handicap hurdle at Doncaster on Saturday, a race in which he finished second last year. They went fast from early, it always looked like there was going to be plenty of pace on, and Calico got involved in an early battle for the lead with Third Time Lucki and Stormin Crossgales before settling in behind the pace. He was still aggressive though and, when he wrested the lead back at the fourth last fence, he traded short enough in-running, reaching a low of 2.64. In the end, however, his early exertions took their toll and he faded to finish fourth behind Petit Tonnerre and General Medrano, who were both held up early on. To put the magnitude of the early pace into context, the winner's finishing speed was 96% of his overall speed. Calico's was just 91%, and the two other horses who contested the early pace with him, Third Time Lucki and Stormin Crossgales, faded out of it completely, the former finishing fifth of five finishers, the latter pulling up before the second last fence.
Calico remains an interestingly-handicapped horse now on a mark of 141, dropped by 1lb for this run. Dan Skelton's horse beat Matata in a handicap chase at Cheltenham in October when he was rated 138. Matata was rated 147 then, he is now rated 163 and is a potential lively outsider for the Champion Chase. Calico is only 3lb higher now than he was then. He goes well at Cheltenham and, even though he was well beaten in the Grand Annual last year, that race could be his target again this year. He will be of interest if he goes there, or if he goes to the Red Rum Chase at Aintree.
Doncaster, 25th January 2025
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