Dan Skelton Sunday runners blog: 'I think he'll run really well despite this big weight'

A big weekend of horse racing action for Dan Skelton concludes on Sunday, with the leading trainer previewing his runners at Cheltenham and Fontwell in his latest blog.

• Phineas Bunce - Fontwell - 12:57 race odds

• Soldier Reeves - Cheltenham - 13:15 race odds

• Deep Purple - Fontwell - 14:05 race odds

• Ice Jet - Fontwell - 14:42 race odds

• Protekorat - Cheltenham - 14:55 race odds

•  Mirabad, Knickerbockerglory & Faivoir - Cheltenham - 15:30 race odds

• Thickthorn Tom - Fontwell - 15:52 race odds

• The Mad Poet - Cheltenham - 16:00 race odds

On Sunday at Cheltenham, we start with a maiden hurdle and Soldier Reeves, who ran really well in a bumper at Newton Abbot last time out. Obviously this is a step up in class, as well as being his first time over hurdles, but he's ready for the run and I think he'll go really well on soft ground, so we're very happy to get him out there. 

Protektorat runs in the three-mile handicap chase here, and we opted for this one instead of the Gold Cup on Saturday because we've ran him in that race before and he's been off his feet a little. A fast-run handicap over two-and-a-half hasn't really suited him, but I do hope that going slower in this will suit him. I know he's got a big weight, but he has to carry that in any handicap he goes in. He's done loads of work at home; unfortunately we couldn't debut him up at Wetherby a couple of weeks ago because the ground was too quick, but he's in good form and I think he'll run really well despite this big weight. 

We've got three in the Greatwood Hurdle - we've had this one in mind for a long time for Mirabad, and obviously Harry [Skelton] rides him. I'd have to give him a big chance in a super-competitive race, he's done everything right and he's got a bit of course form so I don't really have any negatives there to be honest. 

Knickerbockerglory would have a good chance as long as the ground stays soft. He wants the ground to be really soft and if that's the case, then I'd give him an each-way squeak for sure. Then we've got Faivoir who has won the County Hurdle before but unfortunately had last year off. He looks fantastic though and had a run at Carlisle the other day which would have done him the world of good. I still think he's a little too high in the handicap, given his age nowadays, but he's there to do his best and hopefully he'll run well. He feels like he's still got the enthusiasm and the athleticism for it, so if it's not this, then maybe he can still win another big one for us... but he doesn't owe us anything.

We've got one running in the bumper called The Mad Poet, who is a really nice horse and he finished second at Wetherby earlier this year. Obviously this is a huge step up for him, but his work has been good and we've always liked this one, so we're happy to pitch him in here. 

Phineas Bunce is one of a few we've got at Fontwell on Sunday, and he runs in a novices' hurdle. He's a lovely horse who ran in bumpers last year, he was second at Doncaster in his most recent bumper, but I think he'll be a much better hurdler so I'm looking forward to getting him started... I think he'll run nicely.

We've got Deep Purple in the Southern National - we're trying an extreme trip, but I think he'd get any trip based on his last run at Chepstow. I'd have to give him an each-way chance, for sure.

Ice Jet is in the juvenile hurdle and he's not up against as many runners as he's faced before; it's a smallish field here and I think the softer ground will suit him. It has to be said this is one who looks like he'll be better off in handicaps down the line, because he hasn't looked like he can win an open at this moment in time.

Thickthorn Tom runs in a handicap hurdle and I think he'll be much better off in these handicaps - he didn't win a novices' but this looks much more like it for him, and hopefully he can be much more competitive here.

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