Dan Skelton weekend runners blog: 'He's got a chance for sure'

In his latest blog, Ladbrokes ambassador Dan Skelton gives his thoughts on his runners on Saturday at Haydock and Ascot and on Sunday at Fakenham and Windsor.

Harry [Skelton] is up at Haydock, starting with Pembroke in a Handicap Hurdle and I think that on this ground, now that the handicapper has given him back a bit, we should be competitive. He hasn't shown him best form this year to date, but the really soft ground, and flat track, means he's got a chance for sure.

Royal Infantry runs in a Grade 2 Novices' Hurdle, and we've had this race in mind after we didn't run in the Grade 1 over Christmas. He's in good form at home, he's won at this track before and it just looked like the obvious one to go for. He's cementing his place as a leading novice, and I'm looking forward to this.

Punta Del Este has won at this is a track so that should suit him hand he's in very good form. The gap between his races is a positive and he should get the trip now he’s older and stronger. He'd have to be there or thereabouts. 

We run Take No Chances in the Mares' Hurdle, she won a good mares' hurdle at the start of the year, and she's run consistently well since. Obviously she's got to take on Kargese here, but there's not a massive amount between them on ratings and I think she'll run well. It's difficult to say she's just going to go and beat all of the others, because this is a good bunch, especially Kargese. But I think she'll run well.

Flegmatik runs in a £100k Handicap over 2m5f, and he's won for us every year that we've had him. He hasn't won for us this year, yet, and I think the handicapper has had him too high, But it appears we're getting to a more realistic mark now. Tristan [Durrell] is riding him, and has won on him before, which is a positive and He gets three pound back for that, as well - so he should have a little each-way squeak.

Lindy Reilly runs over two-and-a-half miles here, having won there over two last time in a Maiden. I feel like two-and-a-half was always going to be a positive for her, although she didn't get it last year. But it should help, and she'd have to have an each-way chance.

Seaview Rock runs in the Bumper and is new to us - we've done loads of work with him and he's quite a forward type of horse so I think this track will suit him.

We've got three in the Two Mile Handicap Chase at Windsor. Unexpected Party I just feel is way too high in the handicap. The handicappers bumped him up plenty for winning at Cheltenham win last year, and have been slow to drop him, even though he hasn't run anything like that since.  

Harry [Skelton] rides Etalon for us, and he's slowly coming back to form I think. We hoped he'd just bound into this year and be progressive, but it hasn't quite worked out like that. I do feel though, that we're getting somewhere with him. I think he'll run well here; I don't necessarily think he'll just drop in but he should do well.

And then we've got Harper's Brook, who won last time out. He should handle the track no problem, but how the race is run will dictate his chances I think. You can never be super confident going into a race with him.

We've also got Gwennie May Boy in a Three Mile Handicap Hurdle - I think he'll go very well here. The flat track should suit him and Obviously, he fell first time out. I wouldn't say it was an underwhelming performance last time out; he was third under top weight. So, hopefully confidence is high after that. He was competitive at Carlisle on that day, but hopefully he's even more so in this one - I'd like to give him a chance here.

Protektorat runs in the Fleur De Lys Chase, a race he came second in last year. He has done very well at home, and we know why he didn't run quite so well at Huntingdon, but I'm really happy with him. There's no excuses, really. I don't think the track should be a problem... we're feeling pretty good.

Supreme Malinas runs later on for us having won a Listed race last time out at Huntingdon. She's gets the Mares' allowance here, which is positive and she's in great form, she looks fantastic and I hope she'll run very well here. This is a very competitive Bumper, though.

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