HARRY WHITTINGTON BLOG: Grade One-winning trainer and ambassador for market-leading betting exchange BETDAQ, looks ahead to his runners over the next few days including the return of Bigmartre at Cheltenham and reflects on those that ran last week.


I was happy enough with BRANDY JAMES at Uttoxeter on Thursday.

He tends to get a bit outpaced in his races, but then finishes them off really well which should stand him in good stead when he runs over a bit further.

We’ll give him a couple of months off now and will look to target a juvenile race at the beginning of January.

I was thrilled with YOUNG BULL’s debut at Ffos Las on Saturday in what looked a pretty strong race.

The horse stayed on really well and he went past some well-regarded types, confirming the potential we thought he had.

He’s clearly got a fair engine on him, so we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do further down the line.

It was a fantastic start and he’s one we’re really excited about.

Entries this week

We’re really looking forward to running one of our stable stars BIGMARTRE at Cheltenham on Saturday in the handicap chase (3.10pm). He has been bouncing at home.

‘Big M’ as he’s known in the yard, has done loads of work in the run-up to the race and he’s really pleased me with how he’s gone about things.

I actually think his schooling is better this season than it was last year, which is incredibly exciting as we all know how progressive he was in his debut season over fences.

It doesn’t look the strongest of renewals so we go there with every chance and I’m very hopeful of a big run.

He goes well fresh, winning both starts after a break and he’s one who the ground should hold no fears for.

A good performance would be fantastic for the whole yard – the weather has meant that we haven’t had nearly as many runners as we would have liked which is obviously very frustrating.

We all know the ability he has from last season and we can’t wait to see him back in action again over fences this year.

Over at Aintree, we’re looking forward to running the filly HENRIETTA BELL in the bumper (4.10pm).

It looks a pretty hot race, but we think a fair amount of her and hopefully she can be competitive on her racecourse debut.

This race will act as a bit of fact-finding mission to see what sort of ability she’s got and once we know that we can play her season accordingly.

She’s impressed us with her work at home, so hopefully she can translate that onto the track.

HARRY