Calgary Bay could be added to the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup line-up in a surprise move.
The nine-year-old, from Henrietta Knight’s West Lockinge stables, near Wantage, had been expected to bypass the Festival and wait for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday, April 14.
But now Knight has revealed that owner Tim Radford has floated the idea of supplementing the much-improved gelding for chasing’s blue riband on Friday week.
His enterprising suggestion comes with the racing world on tenterhooks over whether dual Gold Cup hero Kauto Star will make it to Prestbury Park after suffering a nasty fall while schooling.
But Knight, who famously trained Best Mate to win three Gold Cups from 2002-4, offered a note of caution.
She said: “It would cost £25,000 to supplement him and I think fourth prize is £26,000. I have got him really geared up for the National, and I think I would rather take him there.”
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