Dan Skelton is hoping for a winner on Grand National day
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We start Grand National day with Aux Ptits Soins and Tommy Rapper (1.45). Aux Ptits Soins goes back into handicap company and we are very happy with him at home.
He’s always best off a long break. Tommy Rapper hasn’t had the most productive season but he comes into this in good form at home. The softer ground is ideal for him.
Destrier (3.00) missed Cheltenham but that was the plan. The ground and track are ideal for him. I think he holds a fair chance despite needing to find some on ratings.
Roksana (3.40) is a Grade 1 winner, winning at the Cheltenham Festival. She is in good form at home. You never know how they will go from Cheltenham to Aintree but she gets seven pounds being a mare.
She was second in a Grade 1 here last year so the track and the trip hold no fears. We are really looking forward to getting going with her against the big boys.
Oldgrangewood (4.20) is a decent horse and he was fourth in this race last year. He’s off a lower mark this time.
Ideally he wouldn’t have wanted it to rain. He gave a good run at Cheltenham and we are looking forward to him going in this now.
We have West To The Bridge in the last race (6.20). He won last time out, he likes softer ground and he won under today’s rider William Marshall. We give him some sort of each-way chance.
At Chepstow we have Sea Of Mystery (2.15) who has been off for a long time. I think he is going to need the run.
We have two in the Novice Hurdle (3.30), Crown Of Roses and Elton Des Mottes, who need to improve a good bit. They’re young horses who haven’t showed an awful lot yet but I hope they’re capable of doing something in the future.
We have two in the Handicap Hurdle (4.40). Set List is going back over hurdles because he doesn’t like fences. We need to get his confidence back.
The Raven Master runs in the same race. I think the ground will be too soft for him but he doesn’t look that well handicapped since he’s come back off a layoff.
Dan
