Ladbrokes’ Dan Skelton discusses his Wetherby & Taunton entries

I head to Wetherby on Saturday and start the day with Sam Red in the 1.35. I think he has a fair chance here.

He was second to a horse he couldn’t beat the other day at Doncaster, giving him weight. He jumped nicely though.

I fancied him for the Rehearsal Chase back in the season and I think he can be competitive in a race like this. I don’t think he should be favourite or anything, but I think he’s got a fair chance.

I run Robin Waters in the 2.10 and the race has been cut up quite a bit.

Tom Lacey has a horse in the race who was second in a bumper so he will be the main competition but on our form, we are going to start short-priced favourite. I hope he can put his first one next to his name.

Captain Chaos (2.40) has been a revelation this season in blinkers. It’s a lot more competitive in this grade and there’s going to be competition for the lead.

It’s a different feeling altogether coming here than going into the two novice chases that he’s won but I have kept him deliberately fresh for this race.

This has always been the plan and I just hope we can pull it off.

Red Rising (3.20) ran really well at Cheltenham last time and he’s had nearly five weeks to get over that. He ran his heart out that day and just found one that was fairly well in I think.

He’s not in same the depth of water he was in that day but at the same time he has to carry top weight around three miles tomorrow. It’s going to be an effort but I think he’s a big player.

On Sunday I go to Taunton with three runners. I have Blairs Cove in the 2.50.

The form just isn’t there at the moment. He actually ran ok the last time he went to Taunton so that’s why we have decided to bring him back here.

Also in the 2.50, Comrade Conrad gets a big weight allowance for his age. He’s only got 10-2 so that makes him a fair player really.

The Mistress is having her first run in a handicap (4.30). I think she’s too high in the handicap but having said that, she has some nice bumper form and just hasn’t got it together really over hurdles.

I could be wrong but from what she has achieved over hurdles, she’s not off the right mark.

Dan