Dan Skelton excited by Protektorat prospects in Gold Cup Handicap Chase
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Ladbrokes ambassador Dan Skelton has eight runners at Cheltenham’s November meeting on Saturday. Read all about their prospects in his latest blog.
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Cheltenham 12.30 – Rocky Man
He was second to Majestrato last time and has a fair distance to make up. I’m not going there presuming he will just do that but I feel he will go well. I have a lot of respect for Majestrato though because the form tells us he will be hard to beat.
Chetenham 1.40 – Third Time Lucki
He was great last time out and I am really looking forward to him going back over the same trip and track. There’s a couple of recent graded performers in there against us but our horse is fresh, well, and ready.
Cheltenham 2.15 – Protektorat
He is the ante-post favourite and I am very excited about running him. He won a Grade 1 last year and sometimes a Grade 1 horse in a handicap looks quite tempting. I have had no problems with him at home. We are very happy with the build- up to this.
Cheltenham 2.15 – Spiritofthegames
He had a run around hurdles last week and ran well over three miles. He runs well in these races all the time so you have to let him have a go. He regularly picks up prize money in these races. Bridget Andrews rides him and he wouldn’t be without an each-way chance.
Cheltenham 2.50 – Shannon Bridge
I feel like he will need slower ground than this but we are happy to run him because he always takes a few runs at the start of the season these days.
Cheltenham 2.50 – Proscehma
He obviously has a really good piece of form from a graded race at Wetherby. On paper this looks like the perfect race for him and I feel like he is over the race from two weeks ago but time will tell.
Cheltenham 3.25 – Unexpected Party
He looked a revelation when stepping up in trip last time. This is a totally different depth of race; it is highly competitive. However I do think he will go well. The trip is the key.
Cheltenham 3.55 – Signal Point
We won this race last year with Elle Est Belle. Signal Point is a nice mare. She’s a five-year-old so she’s got that little bit of strength against some of the four-year-olds in the race. She travelled well around the track last year and her form is pretty good. She will go jumping at some point.
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