Dan Skelton previews his Saturday runners at Aintree
He was second last week at Fakenham. He doesn’t like fences and he is getting it together over hurdles as you can see.
I’m not saying that he’s going to turn up and win next time but I just feel that he is in form, ticking away nicely at home and will like the trip.
He was fourth in this last year. I don’t think they went fast enough for him at Cheltenham in the Conditional Jockey’s race so I just think he ran a bit below par that day.
I am happy with him at home and I’ve got no reason not to think he won’t run as well as he did last year at least.
He ran really well at Doncaster and then just never got going at Haydock last time, which we will just have to put behind us.
If you put a line through that, you would think he’s got a chance.
She skipped Fairyhouse for this. She will like the ground here, she gets a 7lbs mares allowance, and she is fresh. Of course she faces Black Op and On The Blindside here.
One looked like the best novice in England before the festival, and the other one was the best in England at the festival.
Those two won’t be easy to rollover but at the same time I see her running really well and we’ve saved her for the spring.
He is a horse I am really looking forward to running. He is such an honest horse, who tries so hard for us.
He has given us some great runs; he broke the record at Newton Abbot back in the autumn.
The more it dries the better it is for him. I don’t know if Petit Mouchoir comes, but with the greatest respect I don’t think he’s had the best preparation for this race in the Arkle.
Brain Power is the other one we will be keeping a close eye on. It’s a competitive race but if Shantou Rock wins, it wouldn’t be a shock. I do think he’s a player.
He never really got going at Cheltenham, getting stuck in the ground at a few fences.
If the ground dries out, this horse is a massive player. He is great round the track and I really think that he is ready for three miles now.
Dan
