Dan Skelton Saturday runners blog: 'I think he's got a squeak'

Ahead of Cheltenham Festival kicking off next week, Dan Skelton's latest exclusive blog with Ladbrokes previews his runners at Sandown and Hereford.

Disco Davis runs in the EBF final at Sandown – this is very much the deep end for him. He ran nicely last time, finishing second, and won the time before that, so he does have a bit of nice form coming into this. But this is going to be very hard – I'd say an each-way chance is realistic here. You know, going and trying to win this, with the competitiveness of the race, is going to be hard.

Knickerbockerglory runs in the Imperial Cup, and he obviously loves Sandown. We'd have loved it to have been softer ground for him, but he's in good form and we've saved him for this race. The uphill finish will make it hard work, but I think he's got a squeak.

Supreme Malinas runs in the mares' bumper. She's won a Listed bumper for fillies this year, so she carries a four-pound penalty. But I don't think that's a massive thing for her. Like I say, she's got some good form coming into this, from that win, and also at Windsor. I think she'll be bang up there again. She appears, to me, to be a very uncomplicated, tough filly. Hopefully she'll be bang up there. 

Hoe Joly Smoke runs in a three-mile handicap chase. He's won round this track before, and I thought it was the most obvious place to come back to. He's in good form, and I think the sun on his back will do him some good. I'd have to give him a fair chance here. I know it's an obvious one, but not much has gone wrong, and we've given him a nice break since his last run. 

We then run Coco Madamoiselle in a novices' handicap chase. We've given her plenty of time off; she wasn't burning how we wanted her to in the winter, so we just wanted to wait for the sun to come out a bit. She's in good form now, and while there are others in there with good form as well, I think she'll go well.

I think Theformismighty will go well in the last race of the day at Sandown. He just got beat the last day, and you can't just say he looks really well-handicapped, because I think he went up 10-pound for winning his first chase. But he has been consistent, and I think he'll run well again. 

Williethebuilder is making his chase debut at Hereford, and I think he'll be competitive here. He's jumped really well over fences. Obviously, I wouldn't say he's in the deep end, but this is open for horses rated 0-140, with experience. But the track should suit him, good ground is ideal, and I think he'll run well. 

Chuggy runs in a novices' hurdle – this is The New Lion and Kateira's half-brother. He's had one run in a point-to-point and I think he got stuck in the ground a bit on that day. This better ground will suit him. We just need to get him started – I don't have any expectations. He's a big chasing type, and I think that's what he'll be down the line: a chaser. We just need to see where we are, but he's a raw horse; he's not like the other two. You know, he's at least a hand bigger than the other two; he's nearly 17-hands.

Mokoro runs in a handicap hurdle, and a bit better ground will suit him, but to be honest, he hasn't looked like he's just going to pop in. I think he'll run OK, but to just go and say I think he'll win is a little ambitious.

For those interested, Ladbrokes has an 'everything you need to know' piece ahead of Cheltenham, as well as a beginner's guide to betting at the festival.

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