Dan Skelton Saturday runners blog: ''Hopefully he can run really well here"

Leading trainer Dan Skelton has shared his latest Saturday runners blog, previewing all of his action at Chepstow on October 11, 2025.

• Ice Jet - Chepstow - 13:35 race odds

• Hoe Joly Smole & Snipe - Chepstow - 14:45 race odds

• Joyeux Machin, Royal Infantry, She's A Saint, West To The Bridge & Take No Chances - Chepstow - 15:20 race odds

• Thistle Ask - Chepstow - 16:35 race odds

• Tranquil Sea - Chepstow - 17:10 race odds

We start Saturday with a Juvenile Hurdle and Ice Jet, off the flat. He carries forward some nice flat form, and I think he'll appreciate hurdling, and the step up in trip, and the slower ground, as well. We've done lots of jumping with him, and he's entitled to improve for that, for sure. Hopefully he can run really well here.

We then run two in the big Handicap Chase: Hoe Joly Smoke and Snipe. Harry [Skelton] rides the former, and I'd give him a fair chance here. He didn't stay the trip last time at Sandown, but this step down in trip is perfect for him though; he's had a good prep. Snipe has also had a good prep, he had a run at Worcester the other day at a trip which was probably too short - that's probably sharpened him up a bit though and he's in good form for this. He's got no weight, Tristan [Durrell] rides him, so hopefully he can go and run really well; I don't see why he wouldn't. The handicapper has got him in a place where he knows he'll run well, but he doesn't exactly give him 7lb in hand. 

Joyeux Machin runs in the Silver Trophy and he wants three miles, to be honest. It's a good starting point for him, though. We've got to get these horses out and started, and so we've chosen this race for him as it’s the only option given the ground. Like I say, though, three miles is probably more to his liking.

Harry rides Royal Infantry in this one, and I think he's got a massive chance. He ran really well at the back end of last year over three miles, in a Listed Novices' Hurdle. That kind of took us by surprise, actually, that he saw out three miles as well as he did. I'd probably been getting the trip wrong earlier in the year; I'd ran him over two miles at Aintree, and then stepped him straight up to three. I think this middle trip is ideal, he's had a great preparation and he looks great. I'd have to give him a fair chance here. 

She's A Saint is another one who I'd have to give a fair each-way chance in this one, for sure. She's got some back form over staying distance; obviously she won at Aintree over two miles, where she saw out the race really well. She's reuniting with Tristan, who won on her that day, and we've had this race in mind for her for a while. 

We've got West To The Bridge in this one as well - he's a good old boy who has been round plenty. He holds his form very well, I don't think the handicapper really holds anything back for him though, especially at his age. PpHe should go and give the running here, because he always does; he always tries his hardest for us. 

Take No Chances runs off top weight - she actually ran in this race last year and finished third that day. Harry Atkins rides her again and takes 7lb off. It wouldn't be impossible to see her running similarly this time out; she's off a higher mark, obviously, but she's in great form.

She loves to race, and this will get her season started. She's probably hiding nothing from the handicapper, but after this we'll be stepping into graded races where she'll be off level weights, or giving away a Class 1 penalty, which probably suits her a little better. 

We've got Thistle Ask in the Handicap Chase over two miles. He's new to us, but he's got some winning form over fences. I think he'll go well here; we've had this race in mind for him for a while - it's a nice starting point, so hopefully there's more to come from him this autumn.

Tranquil Sea sees out the day for us on Saturday in the last at Chepstow, in a three-mile Handicap Hurdle. He ran a month ago in a two-and-a-half-mile hurdle at Worcester, and I think three is going to be a better trip for him. The benefit of that Worcester run won't be lost on him either. He ran really well that day and finished second, but I'd like to think that over this trip, with that run under his belt, he can go one better. Hopefully he's got a big chance. 

View the latest horse racing odds and specials.

All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.