Dan Skelton: West Balbao has the stamina for Long Walk Hurdle success
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In his exclusive blog, Ladbrokes ambassador and trainer Dan Skelton discusses the chances of his five runners at Ascot and one at Haydock on Saturday.
Three miles is definitely the way to go with Micro Millions. I am looking forward to running him here. The ground will be a little better than what he has been running on recently as well, so no negatives really. We’ll see how he fits in off his handicap mark.
Shan Blue runs in a handicap chase and OK, it is only 2m3f – a shorter distance than what he is used to – but the ground is a lot better than the last day and we need to see some form from him. I have been seeing some nice things from him at home but it just hasn’t been happening at the track. We need to see a bit of sparkle off him and I think this track will be fine.
West Balboa runs in the G1 Long Walk Hurdle. She won on her seasonal reappearance at Aintree and looked pretty gritty. The ground was very soft that day. She’s had a nice break since, the benefit of the run is there, and we are very happy with her. She takes on the stalwarts of the three-mile division for the first time here and there are improvers amongst them as well, so it will be hard. She has the stamina and she is primed to do her best.
Flegmatik runs in a three-mile 100k chase and he’s conditioned for these races nowadays and I hope he gets his chance to win one of them. There are no negatives; he likes the track, the trip isn’t an issue, nor is the drying ground. I would like to think he will do well.
There’s 150k on offer in this race. Faivoir knows what he is doing in these races. He won last year’s County Hurdle. He ran a really nice race the last day when he made his own running. There is no reason why he won’t be competitive. He is doing well at home and the sparkle is there so whilst he’s not predictable, he’s in a good race for him.
Real Stone won at the track at the big weekend last month and I think he has a real chance here. He is in great form, he likes the track, soft ground is no issue, so I am looking forward to running him.
Dan
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