Dan Skelton previews his weekend runners
Published:
Ladbrokes ambassador Dan Skelton gives us the lowdown on the prospects of his runners at Ascot, Haydock, Taunton, Lingfield and Warwick this weekend.
Saturday
It’s a decent looking Juvenile Hurdle which you would expect around Ascot. We have done loads of work with him and lots of jumping, so we are happy with him and are ready to start. He’ll stay the trip well and I think he’ll go well.
Unexpected Party runs in a good handicap hurdle. He was unlucky the last day. He has gone up a little bit in the weights but I am not too worried about that. He’s in good form and these races obviously suit him. He has shown that he can run in these types of races twice now so hopefully there is another good run on the cards.
This is quite a good race she is in, and a race we won last year with Roksana. This race has always been on the agenda for Molly Ollys Wishes. She is level top weight on ratings, she stays three miles, and goes on soft ground so we are looking forward to this.
I had this race in mind for sometime for him. He wanted further than his last outing and this is perfect and he hasn’t got much weight. This is a hot race though.
This is a massive race and Amoola Gold obviously has a lot to find on numbers. He is good around the track. There is more written about this race than I need to say, so we will go there and give it our best shot.
She is a lovely mare, who won last time at Wetherby by any margin. We need to go and back that up now but she is in good form at home.
Bridget Andrews rides Pikar in a Grade 2 and we are happy to be in a race like this with him. If he wins a good race great, if he’s a novice next year it’s not the end of the world as he’s only five. He fell last time but he is fit and healthy and has done loads of jumping. We are not expecting him to win against Jonbon though.
Alnadam has little weight. He nearly got the trip, 3m2f, at Cheltenham last year but didn’t quite get up the hill. He’s a little bit older and stronger and on ground that he likes. Hopefully the trip is good for him. He ran well at Cheltenham the last day, the ground just wasn’t slow enough, but we are happy with him.
He is only a baby and I can see him getting better with age to be honest. But I give him a little each-way chance.
Sunday
He ran above expectations at Cheltenham first time to be honest. This race was always in our mind for him. We are happy with how the race looks. On his form he should go very close in this.
I think dropping back in trip is positive for him. He’s on ground he has won on before. This is a good race, but I have to give our horse a chance as his overall record is very good.
She won very well first time out. This is a little bit further but I don’t think that holds any fears. She should go very close and is our best chance of the weekend.
He has won his last two and looks ok handicapped. This year the handicapper is giving all the novices a fair chance. He has been consistent I would give him a chance.
