Dan Skelton: Too Friendly can thrive in Ascot conditions
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Ladbrokes ambassador and leading trainer Dan Skelton discusses the chances of his eight runners at Ascot and Haydock on Saturday.
We run Jay Jay Reilly in the Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase. The race has cut up numbers wise but it is a pretty competitive heat all the same. Our horse likes good ground and looked like he stayed really well the last day.
I know it was over a shorter trip but he has stamina in his family so we thought we would give it a try. It is worth a few quid and we are not without a chance.
We had intentions to run different horses at these meetings but as there is no rain we had to change plan. Too Friendly runs quite quickly and will love this ground and the track. He likes two-and-a-half-miles too, so there are a lot of positives in a competitive race.
Harry [Skelton] is at Haydock for us and we start with Punta Del Este in a juvenile hurdle. He comes from France having shown good form there. We have to see how it translates to the UK. We are very happy with him at home and he has a future in the game for sure!
It is a bit unusual to have a horse like this over hurdles in a graded race and saying we fancy him, but we do. I know this year’s best run has been over the National fences and plan A was to go to Ascot but the ground is a little quick over fences there.
I think he has a nice chance here. He will improve a lot from Warwick and the ground is more to his liking.
We are going chasing now. I didn’t expect to run him at this time of year, but with the unusual weather and ground, we can get him started. I hope he makes a chaser.
She ran nicely in a Pertemps race three weeks ago at Huntingdon. The ground should be nice for her here, where she was second in a 100k handicap back in the autumn. It is obvious that she should have a crack at this. As the days get longer and the sun stays out, she will get better.
I think his profile suggests that he stays well. We are running him quite quickly but he’s in good form at home and I think the trip will suit, while the bit of rain they had is ideal. I don’t have any great predictions for this.
He won at Hereford last time and that was quite a deep contest, with two horses pulling quite clear. I think he has a very nice chance in this valuable Hunters’ Chase.
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