Dan Skelton Aintree Blog: ‘We’re in the best possible form’
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Ahead of the 2024 Grand National, the first instalment of the Dan Skelton Aintree Blog sees the leading trainer and Ladbrokes ambassador preview his runners in Thursday and Friday’s races.
Dan Skelton Aintree Blog
He has the very soft ground that he had at Cheltenham and he takes on Ginny’s Destiny again. I am very happy with him at home, he looks fantastic, and there are no negatives. I think most of these horses have run at Cheltenham so it’s not like one of them have an advantage by coming here fresh. I am really looking forward to this.
He is in great form as well after winning the Coral Cup and he has come out of that very well. I’ve always wanted to have a go at a race like this with him. We just never had the chance to because of circumstances so we are very much looking forward to this opportunity now. I have got a lot of respect for the top two in the betting; Bob Olinger and Impaire Et Passe but we are probably in the best possible form we can be in.
He came second in this race last year and I think he has a great chance of filling one of the places again. It would be a bold statement to say he can win at his age but he doesn’t appear to be deteriorating. He’s in as good of form as last year. He will love the ground and he has been around the track before so there are a lot of positives.
Harry [Skelton] rides Unexpected Party who of course won the Grand Annual. It is the same trip here on very soft ground which it was at Cheltenham so that is no issue. I wouldn’t want it to go heavy all over
but soft is fine. I am looking forward to getting him back out there as he seems in great form at home.
Heltenham has been dropped back in trip due to the ground being so soft. He has won his last two races around Newbury and is in great form. He wasn’t showing that in the winter for whatever reason but his last three runs have been really good and he appears to be in the same form at home.
Honky Tonk Highway is in great form. We had this race in mind for a long time and she wants this ground too. You always come to Aintree thinking the ground will be a little better so we are really happy for her that it is this soft. She has a leading chance.
Listentoyourheart has been second in two listed races and she holds very good form. She has come very close in two races and I have been very happy with how she has trained and this race has been in mind for a while. We have trained her specifically for it. I don’t think she is a back number by any stretch.
Boombawn won last time and could do with the ground drying up a fraction. He looks progressive and the trip is perfect for him on a flat track as well.
Katiera is Harry’s ride. She ran really well last time, but didn’t run anything like we’d hoped in the winter. She stayed on well at the line at Kempton last time and This track suits her, as she was second in the Grade 1 here last year. She has a big chance.
Playful Saint will like the ground. It was way too quick for him the last day. This is much more like it and I think he will acquit himself well. He is a horse who has been in top end handicaps before and has run really well. I will put a line through the last day.
Santos Blue has regular partner Ben Sutton on board for this. I thought Ben gave him a great ride when he won the last day. He loves these conditions and the trip and I am looking forward to running him as he is in great form. He doesn’t hide much from the handicapper but he is very consistent.
West To The Bridge is dropping to a nice handicap mark but He has bever won one of the these too end handicap races. It would be great to do so and he doesn’t appear to be deteriorating despite his age. His run the last time was a little underwhelming which was pretty annoying as everything looked in his favour. A more competitive, faster run race here will really suit him.
The Melling Chase is a high quality and very competitive race and we run Protektorat, who won the Ryanair last time. Soft ground over two-and-a-half-miles is what he had at Cheltenham so why change that theory. He comes here in great form. He is a different horse this year and I never expected to run him this much and for him to take to it like he has, has been brilliant. We have done things differently with him and that is why it’s happening. There is some really good opposition so we aren’t coming here thinking we should be the favourite. It will be a hard race.
She has been kept fresh for this and she gets a 7lbs mares allowance. A mare won it last year so Her profile for this race looks good. She definitely stays, she handles soft ground and I have been very happy with her progression this year. She was second in a Grade 2 last time and a few of the principals in this race have been to Cheltenham so I am looking forward to getting out there with her. There is a lot to like about her at a bigger price.
Pikar is coming back from a long lay off and I think he will just need the run. He has done as much as he can do and he is a horse going forward that I have always believed has a lot of improvement in him.
Skycutter has a good chance. He ran really well at Kelso, he’s had enough time to get over that, so he is fresh and well. Soft ground is no issue, the track isn’t a problem. and he will stay the trip out really well.
