Dan Skelton: Heltenham my best chance of the weekend

He had a run over hurdles the other day having been off for a while and travelled and jumped really well but just went pop at the top of the hill and Harry [Skelton] pulled him up.

I wasn’t expecting fireworks, we just needed to get the wheels in motion. I am expecting a nice run here without expecting him to win. The candle is starting to burn brighter and we can get him back on track.

Elle Est Beau – 12.05 Sandown

She is at the bottom of the weights here. She ran nicely the last day and Tristan (Durrell) takes 5bs off her like he did the last day and I think he has a little chance.

Sholojack – 12.40 Sandown

I think this trip will be much more to his liking on real soft ground. He ran nicely the other day and I think he will put up an improved performance without expecting him to just go and win.

Unexpected Party – 1.50 Sandown

It is a competitive race but he is a leader on figures and I think he has a real chance.

He steps back to two miles as he doesn’t quite get two-and-a-half in real testing ground. He has all that experience under his belt now, as he is a second season novice.

He won at Chepstow which is very good form so I am really looking forward to running him.

Punta Del Este & Langer Dan – 2.25 Sandown

Langer Dan is in good form at home and has won around here before but carries an awful lot of weight.

He ran OK the last day but again under a lot of weight. He’s not the biggest in the world so whilst he can win around the track and everything else, this weight will be hard for him.

Punta Del Este ran a really nice race at Wetherby last time out, staying on well. The track, trip, and ground should suit him so he has a little each-way chance.

Nube Negra – 3.00 Sandown

Nube Negra runs in the high-class Tingle Creek with Jonbon etc. He knows what he is doing in these races and he is in good form at home.

I know he is very good fresh historically but I think he has come out of the last race really well. It will be hard against Jonbon and Edwardstone, who he was behind last time, but I am happy with our horse, he looks great, he has done so well for us in the past, and it is just a pleasure to run him.

Goonhilly – 11.10 Aintree

We have a busy day a Aintree, starting with Goonhilly who drops back to two miles and that is a positive for him.

The soft ground isn’t an issue. There is another horse leading on figures in this but I think our horse should go nicely.

Pembroke – 11.45 Aintree

The step up in trip here is a positive. He was highly tried last year with some success at times.

It hasn’t quite happened over fences for him yet but it’s early days and I am happy with him at home. We are looking forward to getting him back out there.

Sacre Coeur – 12.55 Aintree

There are two highly-rated horses in here that are going to be hard to beat but there is valuable black type on offer and we will be doing our best to get as much of it as possible.

She has been a reformed horse for us over fences and we are really looking forward to getting her out there in this race to see where she stands against the higher rated mares.

Heltenham – 1.30 Aintree

This has been his plan after last week’s ground was too good at Newbury. This is the obvious race to come for with soft ground being perfect. I think he is a big player and I think he is my best chance of the weekend.

Ashtown Lad – 2.05 Aintree

The Becher Chase is his big target of the year. He ran last time out at Wincanton and ran OK until he pulled up turning in.

That track is probably tight enough for him and he needed the run. He has the run under his belt now, he won this last year, and he is in good form at home.

Le Fauve & Virginia Lodge – 2.40 Aintree

Le Fauve is from France and was second on his debut over hurdles and he is a nice horse with a big future in the game. We like what we see at home and I think he will go well.

Virgina Lodge won last time out in a small race around Fakenham. It’ll be hard for her against this lot but there is some valuable black type here and if we can win some of that, that would be brilliant.

Vicki Vale – 3.15 Aintree

Vicki Vale was second last time out at Wincanton. This track is no issue to her, there is a lot to like about her and she should be competitive given her good run last time.

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