Dan Skelton Saturday runners blog: 'We can go chasing next year'

Ahead of a huge weekend of racing at Chepstow and Kempton, Dan Skelton shares his latest exclusive blog with Ladbrokes. 

We've got Doyen Quest in the first race at Kempton, a handicap hurdle. All of a sudden, he's looking not quite so well handicapped, having once looked like he was going to be quite progressive in the autumn and winter.

We've dropped back in trip a little, and I think that might be a positive, but ultimately he doesn't look the best handicapped at the moment. He's a pretty consistent horse though, and I'm sure his time will come again. We're not too worried for the long-term as we can go chasing next year.

Boombawn runs in a very good Pendil - we've kept him fresh for this and hopefully he's got a good chance here. Obviously, he has to carry a Class 1 penalty, having won the Rising Stars, but that's the way it is. The track will really suit him, the trip is perfect - he's a very fresh horse and he'll definitely give his running. He's got to give away that penalty, like I say, which isn't ideal because there are some good horses in there but I do think he'll run very well.

Heltenham runs in the big race, the Ladbrokes Trophy, and I do think he's got a chance here. He was second here last year, over two-and-a-half miles, and the three mile trip this time will definitely suit him better around this track.

It feels like he's coming back to a bit of form - he won around this time last year as well... I'd have to give him an each-way squeak for sure.

Etalon runs in a handicap chase over two-and-a-half; most of his running has been done over two miles, but I think two-and-a-half is a new and better trip for him. I'd have to give him a fair chance here, he's in great form at home, his coat is starting to turn and I think he's definitely got a fair chance.

Moneygarrow runs in the bumper - he obviously won at Chepstow at the start of the season and was second in a listed race at Ascot before Christmas - that was a very good run, behind the horse who is favourite for the Cheltenham Bumper.

We couldn't deal with him that day, but he's in good form and has worked well. This track is no problem for him, so I'm looking forward to getting him back out. He does have to carry a penalty, but there's a few in there that do.

Tyrrhenus makes his debut at Chepstow - it's actually his lifetime debut as he's never even ran in a point-to-point. He's in a Novices' Hurdle here, and he's been a bit backward, but two-and-a-half is a nice trip for him to start at.

I'd just be watching him for now, and letting him tell us where he could go and what he could do. He's a very big horse, and I should imagine he's a chaser down the line.

Harper's Brook runs in a two-mile chase and I think the track at Chepstow will really suit him. He obviously won at Wetherby around Christmas, and then made quite a bad mistake at Windsor, next time out, so never really got into that race.

But I think this track will suit him well... he's got a Cheltenham entry, and the idea would be to go here, and then to Cheltenham with him. He's in good form; it's hard to predict exactly how he'll run because he kind of runs how he wants, but he's capable of running really well.

Got Grey and Mostly Sunny run in a handicap hurdle, and I think they're both high enough in the handicap. The ground is probably soft enough for the pair of them as well. We've got to get them out there though. Got Grey ran nicely last time out but the handicapper has got him.

With Mostly Sunny, the handicapper has definitely got a hold of him at the moment. They were pretty productive when the ground was better in the summer and the autumn last year, and hopefully they get their chance again when the ground sharpens up. 

Nube De Trueno runs in a handicap for the first time, and this should be a lot more like it for him, in this Grade. Although, he does need to step forward massively on what he's shown. I'd see him as a chaser down the line to be honest. We'll see how he gets on, but being in a handicap, we'll definitely see him in a better light.

Then we have a really nice horse in the bumper called Just Golden, who was second on his debut for us at Hereford. This track is much better for him, though, and I think he'll run really nicely. It's probably a good Bumper, but the track should really suit our horse.

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