Dan Skelton weekend runners blog: 'He needs to show more'

In his latest blog, leading trainer Dan Skelton exclusively gives his thoughts to Ladbrokes on his runners this weekend at Carlisle, Huntingdon, Ascot and Wetherby.

Frere d'Armes runs in the £100,000 2 Mile Handicap Chase, and he's got no weight as Heidi [Palin] rides him, and takes seven pound off. He's competitive, so hopefully he can pick up a bit of prize money there.

We've got two in the Three Mile Handicap Chase: Flegmatik, I think, will improve a bit for the run; he's a hard horse to get fit, and I think the handicapper has got him way too high. And then there's Mylesfromwicklow who, I think, can be competitive here; he's only got 10-7, he's very good right-handed, and the trip should be fine, plus the ground is ideal for him. I'd have to give him an each-way squeak for sure.

Up at Wetherby, we've got Take No Chances in the Mares' race. She's dropping back to two miles, but I've won this with Molly Ollys Wishes, dropping back to two miles. She's a good mare, this one, so hopefully she'll run very well. 

Kateira runs in the West Yorkshire Hurdle, and I think she's got a great chance. She gets seven pound off the boys, and the step up to three miles should suit her. The ground is ideal, and I'd like to think she's got a massive chance.

Grey Dawning is declared for the Charlie Hall Chase, and I'll be taking very close notice of the ground; if there's any doubt, if there's no doubt, and we won't be taking any chances. Right now, I think it's doubtful; I don't think it's going to be easy enough. If it was, I think he'll run very, very well. There's a bit to work on, and I suspect there'll be horses that are having their biggest day of the season in there. We've got bigger things to come, though, we hope. But he is fitter than he's ever been at the start of the season.

Get The Beat runs in the Novices' Hurdle, he didn't show much last time out; I thought he was a bit better than that. He needs to show more.

Grey Dawning is declared for the Colin Parker Memorial, but I'm not convinced that the ground will be soft enough... we'll have to see. I'm trying my best to run him, but I'll only run him on very safe ground.

Punta Del Este runs in the Handicap Hurdle, and I think he has a good chance here. The Hurdles track will be softer than the Chase track, and so I think he's got a big chance in that one. He carries plenty of weight, but that's not an issue, really. I'm happy with his training, and he won last time out at Ayr, which was a bit of a surprise. He could be a progressive horse, though. 

Galia Des Liteaux runs in the Mares' Chase, which is a nice place to start her back. She's clear top-rated, so she'll obviously be favourite in this. She last ran in the Grand National, and this is a nice race to come back to after the National; calmer waters. The ground could be softer for her, but it's a nice place for her to be after the National. She's done plenty of work, she will improve a bit, and she'll obviously go up in trip after this. 

Snipe runs in the Handicap Chase - he ran well around this track last time out, and a little bit of improvement should be coming. If we see that improvement, then he'll go close here. 

We run Lady Jago in the Novices' Hurdle at Huntingdon - Harry Atkins is claiming the penalty off her, and you've got to say she'd have to be competitive. She ran well last time, when she finished second to Prince Imperial - a nice horse of Olly Murphy's - but having won the time before, I'd give her a definite chance in this race.

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