Calgary Bay Profile

Calgary Bay is a classic example of one of the many Grand National outsiders that is due to take part in the mammoth race each year. Calgary Bay has been pushed hard for an eight-year-old Bay Gelding and has already raced in a total of 23 races.

Miss H C Knight is the current trainer of this horse and has been working hard on improving the strengths of the animal and eradicating the weaknesses. Calgary Bay does have the potential to come through the field and cause a massive upset.

The Career of Calgary Bay

The career of Calgary Bay started in positive fashion with a second place finish over 16 furlongs at Ludlow on May 17 2007. Calgary Bay gave off a very good impression and was held up before challenging, the horse was only narrowly beaten.

The first win in the career of Calgary Bay arrived in the fourth career race of the horse following three consecutive second place finishes. This win was over 17 furlongs at Cheltenham in December 2007.

The same classic holding up style was executed by Tony McCoy. Calgary Bay sat in the middle of the field for the majority of the race before pushing on in the final few furlongs to win by a single length.

Characteristics of Calgary Bay

The characteristics of Calgary Bay are predominantly positive and the only reason the horse is a long priced outsider for the Grand National is due to a few bad performances at the Cheltenham Festival.

The characteristics of Calgary Bay are those of a lively horse that enjoys competition and being around other horses. Calgary Bay always looks as though it is giving everything it has regardless of the length, quality or size of a race.

Concerns with Calgary Bay

There are a few concerns with Calgary Bay that are important to consider. The horse has not historically run well in big races. However, this is more to do with the quality of other horses in those races as opposed to external factors such as the big crowds and noise.

One of the biggest concerns with Calgary Bay is the horse's habit of making lazy mistakes. The Grand National has some massive jumps such as The Chair. If Calgary Bay goes over these jumps in a lazy well then the horse could concede ground to the front runners, which will be difficult to make back.

The Recent Form of Calgary Bay

The recent form of Calgary Bay is difficult to judge because the horse has raced only once during 2011. This was over 21 furlongs at Cheltenham on January 29. Calgary Bay finished second after being beaten by the favourite by three lengths.

The recent form of Calgary Bay seems typical of the large part of this horse's career. Good results have been mixed in with a few poor results and it is difficult to predict how Calgary Bay is going to perform. The horse has not won a race since December 2009.