Dan Skelton Saturday runners blog: 'She should go well here'

In his latest blog, leading trainer and Ladbrokes ambassador Dan Skelton gives his thoughts on his runners on Saturday at Newbury, Doncaster and Newcastle.

We run Listentoyourheart in a Listed Mares' Novices' Hurdle - she's in good form, she's won round the track - she does carry a penalty but I'm not sure that's going to be a massive problem for her. She looks great, she's going well and we've had this race in mind for her, so I think she should go well here.

Le Milos runs in the second race of the day - I think this trip is looking like it's about right - he obviously won on the card two years ago, when he won the Coral Gold Cup. We haven't quite hit those heights since, but he's been running really well, and I think he should go well here. I think he needed the run the last day.

The New Lion runs in a very good Novices' Hurdle, which is full of winners. It looks like a very good race; there's been a lot worse Graded Novices' than this one. Hopefully he's en route to the Challow - but he has to go and run well here, so we'll see how we get on but we’re very happy with him at home.

Then we run Lac De Constance in the Handicap Hurdle, and I think the soft ground will really suit him here. He was running well, first time out this season, when he fell at the last. I think he can go well here; this trip, on this ground, should be ideal.

We've got two in the Coral Gold Cup - Harry [Skelton] is riding Galia Des Liteaux - she'll love soft ground, the trip is ideal and she's had a run under her belt... there's a lot of positives there. The reason Harry's riding her is because for a moment last week, it didn't look like we were going to run Midnight River, so Harry committed to Galia, and so it's only appropriate that we stick to that, once we've made that decision. So, he's riding her, and you'd have to say she'll have a chance. The same can be said for Midnight River; he's had a run, we fancied him quite strongly for this race last year when he sprawled on landing, down the back straight. He got a little injury that day but we've had this race in mind for some time since. There was a moment last week where I didn't think it was going to happen, but I'm very happy with him now. We've put cheekpieces on him for the first time, to sharpen him up as well.

Then in the last race, we run Etalon and Real Stone. Etalon had a good novice year, last year, barring his last run. He was a little underwhelming at Exeter - it has to be said - first time out, but we can forgive him that, and now he's got a run under his belt, we're expecting him to be very competitive here. Real Stone is having his first run of the season, although we have been for a gallop. This type of track suits him well, so we'll just see what the ground looks like. If the ground is really soft, I could see Real Stone swerving this. We're just going to have to keep an eye on the weather.

We're running a filly called Global Hideaway in the Introductory Juvenile Hurdle - I can't see her beating the favourites in this race, but she did run very well at Bangor a few weeks ago. I'd like to see her take a step forward here, and run really well again.

Take No Chances is running in the Fighting Fifth - she won a Listed Mares' Hurdle last time, at Wetherby, over two miles. That was surprising, because we thought she wanted further - in fact we know she wants further, but she saw the trip out really well, and I hope it will be the same case here. We're not going into the race expecting to be better than Sir Gino or Mystical Power, but there's plenty of prize money on offer, she's got good form at two miles this year, so why not give her a go...

Jet Plane runs in the Rehearsal Chase and he's in great form - I've been so impressed with him in training, and so I have to give him an each-way chance. I know he's been around a bit, but I'm very happy with how he's been recently.

Shakeyatailfeather is having her first run over fences, and there's not many horses in against her so she should be competitive on some nice ground. 

Then we've got a nice Bumper Mare called Hello Life in the 3-yo Bumper - we've done loads of work, and she's a galloper, more than a sharp type that would quicken up, over a shorter distance. So, if this does turn into a bit of a sprint, that wouldn't suit her. But she should see the trip out really well. 

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