Dan Skelton Saturday runners blog: 'He's a young horse with a big future ahead'

With the Grand National right around the corner, Dan Skelton shares his blog previewing his runner at Uttoxeter, as well as giving his thoughts on Langer Dan and Aintree.

Double Measure is our only runner on Saturday; a really nice horse running in the bumper at Uttoxeter. I think he'll run well, but I won't necessarily say the only good result is him winning as he’s quite babyish, he's a young horse with a big future ahead of him we think. 

Obviously the news is now out that Langer Dan has been retired and it easy to say he's been an absolutely fantastic horse for us. He was bought as a foal and spent the whole of his career with us. We always joke that he never really grew from when he was a foal, but it didn't stop him at all. Obviously he was remarkable in the spring on a number of occasions - he went to five Cheltenham festivals, finishing fifth in his first in the Fred Winter in 2020, winning another two, he came second on another occasion and was brought down in 2022. He was also great fun... absolutely great.

He's one of the most talked about horses I've ever had, just because he used to come alive in those handicap races in the spring. Everyone either loved him, or loved to hate him! He did what he wanted, really, in terms of his running, and I just couldn't train him in the winter. 

We count ourselves very lucky to have had him. And we also count ourselves lucky we got the warning that his heart wasn't performing quite correctly enough - that warning came as a result of his slightly dirty nose during this year's Cheltenham week. You know, without that sign, we'd have known nothing, and it was only after the antibiotics didn't clear up what we just thought was a standard lung infection, that he went into the vets for stronger antibiotics. it was a real shock to all of us when the news came that his heart wasn't performing accurately.

So, of course, that was bad news for us to take this week, but the main thing is that he's ok, and he's going to live a nice retirement now with Amber [Blythe] who rode him all the time. Colm [Donlon] was just a brilliant owner to him, and he was well looked after all the time.

Aintree is obviously coming up next week, and we're really looking forward to it; loads of prize money up for grabs, loads of Grade 1 races - we're going to give it the best kick we can. We've got fresh horses going there, the likes of Grey Dawning, Live Conti, Gwennie May Boy, Royal Infantry... and there's a heap of others, as well. 

We don't have any representation in the big one, but that's simply because we don't have a horse... hopefully this Trainers' Championship doesn't come down to the Grand National!

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