Dan Skelton rates Beakstown chances in big race at Kempton
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Ladbrokes ambassador Dan Skelton has seven runners over the weekend, four of which are at Kempton on Saturday, and the Warwickshire-based trainer gave us the lowdown on their prospects over the two days.
Saturday
The little drop in trip won’t be a problem for him. He was good at this track the last day and with his good form at home as well, I would like to think he will go very close. We’ll have no excuses.
This is a good novice hurdle. We’ve got a few pound to find with a couple but I am very happy with this horse. The trip, track and ground are all very suitable and this race will tell us where we stand. I do like him.
This is the big race and our horse is in good form. We are trying three miles which is a pretty big step up in trip but we are happy with him and I think it’ll suit him. I am happy to make the step up at a place like Kempton and it’s worth 150k so we will give it a go.
He runs a little bit further this time and I have put the cheekpieces on him for the first time. I felt he had a bit left at Warwick last time so we will see how we get on with the cheekpieces. He’s in good form at home.
He drops back in trip here because he did too much at Doncaster the last day. I was surprised at how much spark he showed at Doncaster that day. I thought he was definitely a three-miler, but he looked like he wanted the drop in trip.
Bridget Andrews is at Chepstow and this horse relishes these very soft conditions. He was a good second at Lingfield the last day and I think he has a really good chance here.
Sunday
He is my one runner on Sunday in the big race – the National Spirit Hurdle. He doesn’t get a penalty because he’s back over hurdles and I’m chuffed to bits with him and looking forward to this. He’s a player at this trip and the left-handed track suits. He’s in much better form than he was post-Huntingdon and he’s in good form now.
