Leading trainer and Ladbrokes ambassador Dan Skelton previews his New Year’s Day runners at Musselburgh and Southwell
Published:
In The World – 1.10 Musselburgh
He ran well at Cheltenham on his last start over two miles. This is a little further in trip but I don’t think that’s a negative if you saw the way he was staying on. At one point he was a pretty good juvenile and things went against him after he got a little injury – a cut on the day he won a juvenile hurdle at Warwick. You could argue he is only just getting the wheels back under him. He looked like he was going in the right direction at Cheltenham and, assuming he can progress from that, I’d like to think he can go well here.
Williethebuilder – 1.45 Musselburgh
A fast track like Musselburgh should suit him. He’s run well at Cheltenham, just not quite getting the last furlong uphill. For now he’d prefer a flat track although I think down the line he could cope with bigger, fast run extended handicaps. He’s only now turning five and I think this is the right thing to do for the moment. He has the experience of those Cheltenham races to put to good use as well.
Frere D’Armes – 2.20 Musselburgh
He steps up to two and a half miles. We were looking to go to Kempton the day after Boxing Day for the Desert Orchid Chase but the weights stayed quite high with Editeur Du Gite running and he wouldn’t have got in the handicap proper, so he takes on a new trip. I don’t think that will be an issue. It’s a good track to get the trip on and I think he should go nicely.
Firak – 12.29 Southwell
It’s going to be testing ground at Southwell but he won’t mind that. He doesn’t have the profile of Knickerbockerglor, who runs later on the card, but he is consistent at his level when he gets his conditions, which he does here. Sean rides him. He won hunter chases on him last year. He takes 7lb off and that is no negative.
Knickerbockerglory – 1.29 Southwell
He runs in a £75,000 handicap hurdle at this new fixture for the track. He too will love the ground. He was second in the Imperial Cup last year in very bad ground and has won at Ffos Las when it was pretty soft as well.
Dan
