Dan Skelton: Plan B for Sholojack in Beginners’ Chase
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With Haydock falling victim to the cold snap on Saturday, Ladbrokes ambassador and leading trainer Dan Skelton examines the chances of his six runners at Lingfield on Sunday.
Saturday
He runs here in a Grade 2 novices’ chase. Two-and-a-half miles is better for him, as he was last seen when he unseated over two miles. Things just happened a bit quick for him around Kempton at Christmas. The trip here is a lot more like it and the slow ground is no issue.
Slow ground is no issue for Sholokjack. He actually fell first time out over fences at Uttoxeter which was very frustrating as he jumped really well at home but these things happen and we just get on with it. He is back out here and I think he is a player.
This is a classy two-mile novices’ hurdle. He looked very good on his last two outings. The trip and ground will suit and I would like to think he is my best chance of a winner on Saturday.
He is a teenager but he loves Haydock. He takes on some younger horses here but he has a low weight around a track he loves. He is in good form at home obviously, otherwise we wouldn’t be running him. At his age things aren’t easy but hopefully there is another big day in him. He has been a magical horse.
We run over hurdles as the form wasn’t there over fences. He was frustrating as he looked like he was going to be a chaser to follow a couple of seasons ago but the ground never turned up for him last year. He does love really soft ground which he will get here and Harry [Skelton] thought we should try him over hurdles. We will give it a go and see if we can get the form back. He is well handicapped if everything comes together.
We won’t be racing this horse too much as a youngster as he’ll go chasing next year. I think two miles around here very much suits him and he was a good second last time. We lost the meeting he was intended to go to during the week at Newbury but this race looks suitable for him at the moment.
Sunday
If Haydock is off, Sholokjack will go here. He would need to find a few pounds with a few others but it is a valuable beginners’ chase so this is plan B.
This is a race we won last year with Ballygrifincottage. This horse stays very well, a little like Ballygrifincottage. He won last time out and showed a good attitude in the finish. I think the step up in trip is a positive for him.
I have two runners here. The ground and the track hold no fears for either. Playful Saint looked very progressive on his last two runs over hurdles. Although Knickerbockerglory is coming back over hurdles, he has nice form over fences. He just got touched off last time at Wetherby. We thought we would comeback over hurdles because the ground around here is a positive for him and the race is worth so much money.
She has to take on Goshen et al which is no easy task but she gets 7lbs and is fresh and well which is very important to her. She would have to have a chance.
He was second at the meeting last year and this trip and track is certainly in his favour. We have had this race in mind for him for some time.
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