Dan Skelton discusses his runners racing on New Year’s Day
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We start 2020 with runners at Cheltenham and Musselburgh. Harry is going to Cheltenham where he rides Protektorat (12.15) in the first.
Thestep up to two and a half miles is a positive for him. He has two bits of goodform around Sandown lately, especially last time in a handicap.
Bringinghandicap form into a novice is always helpful. There are a couple ratedslightly higher than him but that doesn’t worry us too much.
Oldgrangewood (2.00) won last time at Newbury where he just got up on the line.
Thisis another competitive handicap in which he is meeting very similar horses. I’dsay he definitely has a chance as the dry weather is in his favour and he is ingreat form.
In the 3m handicap hurdle we have Anytime Will Do (2.35).
Withthe promise of a fast run race, carrying 10st and the likelihood of the fieldcoming back to him up the hill, there could be a lot of positives here. I wouldhave to give him an each way chance.
Heran well at Newbury the other day, where he lost concentration late on and wentleft-handed across the track, but this trip still does look the right call forhim after last time.
Our Cheltenham Festival winner Roksana (3.10) is very well. Ascot did not go right for us. We probably rode her a bit handy and had one of those days where we wished we could do it again.
Sheis absolutely fine and I am looking forward to running her again at Cheltenhamover the right trip. She receives weight from everyone in the field and I wouldbe disappointed if she wasn’t bang up there.
We send one runner to Musselburgh, Peter The Mayo Man (2.15), who will like the ground and a fast run race will suit him.
Hisform hasn’t been there recently but he does look well handicapped on old formif he can piece it all back together.
HappyNew Year
Dan
