Dan Skelton reflects on Cheltenham and discusses weekend runners
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Leading trainer and Ladbrokes ambassador Dan Skelton reflects on the Cheltenham Festival and previews his weekend runners at Kelso, Newbury and Exeter.
Cheltenham was a good week for us overall with two winners! It’s so competitive there and I was happy with how most ran to be fair.
Midnight River under-ran and obviously Pembroke didn’t jump with as much accuracy as is necessary but overall we can’t be disappointed.
Protektorat ran a great race to lead turning in, in what I thought was a great Gold Cup. We had no excuses.
Faivoir was great with Bridget, who now becomes a dual winner at the Festival, and little Langer Dan finally landed his Cheltenham pot. He was so tough and brave.
We look ahead now to Aintree and, unusually for us, possibly Punchestown too. We’ve got plenty left to run as the ground was so quick for a lot of the season that Punchestown could come into the reckoning for a few.
Aintree will see us take fresh horses like Grey Dawning, Katiera and West Balboa (and others!) to the track and we’re really looking forward to it.
Saturday
He has bottom weight and the conditions are perfect for him. Soft ground over 2m3f is ideal. This represents a significant step up in grade but he gets to do it with the smallest weight. He would have to have a chance.
We have won this before and been second in it a couple of times. We had hoped this mare would take in this race all season and I think she will have an each-way chance in a very competitive race.
He’s a doubtful runner. I think the ground will be too soft for him but if there was no more rain we have to get him started somewhere. He is an older boy now who loves nice ground. It’s not that he can’t run on soft, he is just more effective on better ground.
Bridget rides in this £50,000 mares’ final in which I think she will have a little squeak. She will be effective at the trip and on the ground.
This is a quick turnaround for her. Tristan takes 5lb off and he’s had a good week, riding a couple of winners. She ran last week at Uttoxeter where she ran acceptably. It’s worth having a poke for £50,000.
Sunday
Vinnie Sparkles – 5.02 Exeter
Sean O’Connor rides in this point-to-point bumper. He is a nice horse who won his only English point-to-point quite handsomely. I think he has a fair future at the game and I think he will go very close to winning.
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