Dan Skelton Saturday runners blog: 'He's been very consistent'

Haydock - 1.37 - First Candidate

We run First Candidate in a mares' maiden at Haydock. She was second last time in a hundred grand handicap up at Kelso, in a Series Final race. She ran really well that day, and I'm hopeful her numbers are sufficient to make her a leading player in this. I can't see any negatives in her at home, she looks in great form and I'm very happy with her.

2.12 - Ice In The Veins

We've then got Ice In The Veins in the two-mile Challenger Series Final, and he's a nice horse who I've had in mind for this race for a while now. He needs to be on better ground, and he ran a bit better the other day on ground that's starting to get better, so I'd like to think he's got a fair chance. It's just all down to better ground for him, so things are looking better for him now. 

2.46 - Blue Carpet

Then we've got Blue Carpet in another Series Final - a three-mile race. I wasn't sure whether I was going to go here or to Aintree, but I went with this one in the end. He's in good form and has had a very progressive year for us. He's done nothing wrong all year really, and he won last time out. He's gone up the handicap, so you have to be a little bit more cautious and respect the fact that life is getting harder for him. But he's in good form. 

3.20 - Le Milos

Le Milos runs in a valuable veterans' race, and there's a heap of runners, which is a little bit unexpected because you don't normally get this number of runners in a veterans' race, but he's very consistent for us. Obviously he isn't getting any younger, but no one is in this field. He should go and run well. I don't think we hide much from the handicapper at all, but he's been very consistent, he loves his racing, and he's fresh and well. 

4.30 - Brookside La

We've also got Brookside La up there, and I think three miles is good for him in this novices' handicap. I wanted to run him two weeks ago at Kelso , but unfortunately he wasn't quite 100%. He's been good since though, and I think this trip will suit him. 

5.05 - Major Fortune

We've got Major Fortune in the handicap chase, over 3m1f and I think that trip is good for him. He didn't run that well the last time we went to Haydock but that was a deep race, and I think these calmer waters are probably better. He's been consistent recently, and I don't see why he won't be consistent again. It's going to be harder for him to win again, because the handicapper has adjusted him since he won at Wincanton. He's not necessarily in the handicapper's grip, but they potentially have his measure. He should go well though, because he is running consistently. 

Newton Abbot - 2.00 - Dutch Corner

We run Dutch Corner in a maiden at Newton Abbot - he hung left-handed last time, when we ran him at Exeter, which is obviously right-handed, so that wasnt ideal. It became an unwinnable contest for him because of that, but we're back left-handed here and that should be much more like it. I think he's got a fair chance. As he's getting older, he's getting stronger - we did fancy him the last day, and when I look at the numbers here, I think we'll go close again. 

4.20 - Top Guy

We also have Top Guy down there, and this is his first try at an extreme distance. He's going 3m2f over hurdles, and I think that will really suit him - he's been desperate for as far as we can go, and this looks like a really good time to go over 3m2f... I think he'll be a fair player. 

Musselburgh - 3.05 - Gambino

We've got Gambino up at Musselburgh on Saturday in a Flat race - he was third at Southwell behind Constitution Hill back in February. He's ran nicely over hurdles since, but I think he'll go well here. Obviously, we're not known for our Flat skills, but based on that form and how he's been, I think he's got a chance.

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