Dan Skelton previews his 20 runners on Boxing Day
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Leading trainer and Ladbrokes ambassador Dan Skelton previews a busy Boxing Day for his stable when they will have 20 runners across the country.
Boxing Day
This horse has a big chance. He ran very well at Huntingdon last time in what I think was a decent race. He was a bit keen throughout but will have learnt plenty from that day out. This track should suit him so he would have to be a player.
We were due to run Ballygrifincottage but I wasn’t 100 per cent happy with him, but I have also always wanted to run this mare here or in the Dipper. She definitely stays three miles and the ground should be perfect. She will be in receipt of 7lb. I’m very happy she is in this race and she jumped great this morning.
I think this track will really suit him, especially over two and half miles. He’s been running against some pretty fancy horses. This represents a step back in grade but it’s a competitive race nonetheless.
He’s got to give away experience in this race. He’s only had two runs over hurdles but he looks nicely handicapped against horses, some of which won’t be so well handicapped. He looks very progressive. The horse he beat won again at Taunton so his form is pretty strong.
Young Ben Sutton rides this horse who will be having his first run in a handicap, which should give him a chance. He hasn’t looked at home in straight novices so handicaps should be more like it.
He was due to run in the Charlie Hall Chase at the start of the season but bruised his foot. We have had a nice clear run to this race and he looks fantastic and jumped great this morning. He gets weight off a few and has to be a big player. We’d like to see him get a clear run at a few races now, but it’s great to have him back on the track.
This will be much more like his trip. He faded at two and half miles last time and I think he will have come forward for that run as well. On his old form he wouldn’t be without a chance.
He has been a bit quiet recently and that’s kind of because he hasn’t been able to run on suitable ground at his favourite Ascot track yet. This ground will be much more to his liking and he has actually won at the course. He would have to have a little squeak.
She was second last time. I’ve given her a good break between races as I think she is best fresh and she would definitely have a squeak.
He’s been crying out for a big trip and he gets his chance here. He would have a squeak too.
He will love the track and the trip. He was second last time with Tristan and must have an obvious chance.
He’s a nice big, strong horse to go chasing but I am not convinced he is a pure bumper horse. I would have to recommend a watching brief but he is a horse that will make into a real National Hunt type down the line. I do like him.
He hasn’t shown it yet this year, which is a bit disappointing because his co-owners have given him plenty of time. Maybe this drop in grade will be a positive for him. It looks like the ability is there at home, it’s just not happened for him at the track.
He ran really well last time and goes in a similar type of race, a two-and-a-half-mile handicap. He would have to have a chance. A long straight, with a long run in after the last is probably a positive for him here.
He won at this track last year. He is better going right-handed and this trip is what he wants so I don’t really have any negatives!
I’ve had this race in mind for him since he won at Hereford. I declared him for the valuable novices chase at Doncaster the week it was called off but that was because it cut up. This has always been Plan A. He will love the trip.
This is one of the sharper bumper horses. He is beautifully bred and would have to have a little squeak here. A lot of our bumper horses are quite backward and long-term chaser types. This horse will make a chaser but he is sharper than a few others.
He put in a good run the last day and I think he has improved from that so he would have a chance.
He made a mess of the third last last time and maybe would have won but for that mistake. He would have a squeak.
She is a very well-bred mare, a full sister to Lalor and Lallygag, who won during the week. I think she will go very well without saying she is a certain bumper winner. She’s done loads of work.
Dan
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