SPARSHOLT trainer Harry Whittington believes Saint Calvados has “the world at his feet” after completing a hat-trick of wins with a sparkling success in the Betway Kingmaker Novices’ Chase at Warwick.

The 4-9 favourite stepped up from winning two handicaps at Newbury to claim the two-mile Grade 2 contest in brilliant fashion with another scintillating display of front-running jumping to slam Diego Du Charmil by 22 lengths under Aidan Coleman.

Now the five-year-old will head for the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on March 13, with bookmakers making him a best-priced 8-1 chance.

Whittington said: “It’s unbelievable. I’m pretty speechless to be honest. It’s fantastic.

“I suppose we just hoped that he might go and do that and the way he did it, and he has done it, so it’s great stuff.

“He is going to be stronger and better next year and probably the year after, so he has got the world at his feet. To go and do it like that, he is a proper horse.

“He has won his race very well and Aidan felt he has improved again for another day, and that will be the Arkle, so it’s very exciting for all of us.”

The Dubai Way (5-2) gave Whittington a double when completing a four-timer in the closing two-mile handicap hurdle to book his place in the EBF Final at Sandown on March 10.

Jockey Harry Bannister made the dash over from Uttoxeter where he had scored on Ceann Sibheal to power the six-year-old home by a length from Vado Forte.

Meanwhile, Eve Johnson Houghton’s Blewbury stables will be keeping their fingers crossed that head lad William Reddy is among the winners at the 2018 Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower in London next Monday.

Reddy, who has worked for the Johnson Houghton family at Woodway for 48 years, is one of three nominees in contention for the Dedication to Racing award.

He is joined by Chris Jerdin, groom of ill-fated 2015 Grand National winner Many Clouds from Oliver Sherwood’s Lambourn yard, and Patrick Lennon, of Shadwell Stud.