Dan Skelton Saturday runners blog: 'The more rain, the better for him'

Dan Skelton has 11 runners across meetings at Ascot, Haydock and Hereford on Saturday, December 20. The Ladbrokes ambassador previews them all in his latest blog.

• Largy Belter - Haydock - 12:20 race odds

• Twistthenightaway - Hereford - 12:28 race odds

• Cobbler's Boy - Haydock - 12:55 race odds

• Mount Gay Run - Ascot - 13:15 race odds

• Pony Soprano - Haydock - 13:30 race odds

• Etalon - Ascot - 13:50 race odds

• Theonewedreamof - Hereford - 14:13 race odds

• Supreme Malinas - Haydock - 14:20 race odds

• Loriko - Hereford - 14:28 race odds

• Live Conti & Faivoi - Ascot - 15:35 race odds

Ascot

1.15 - Ascot - Mount Gay Run

At Ascot we start with Mount Gay Run in a novices' handicap hurdle. He's in good form and has had one run for us, finishing a good second in a maiden at Southwell. I think the step-up in trip will really help him, and he's done a lot of work since Southwell. I think he's in pretty good form and how he competes with his handicap mark remains to be seen, but I don't think this is beyond him. I think he'll have a good chance.

1.50 - Ascot - Etalon

Etalon runs in a two-mile-three handicap chase, so we're stepping up in trip a little. He was disappointing last time out at Newbury; I thought he'd run really well but nothing happened at all. That was a bit frustrating, but we're up in trip here, and I don't see why this track wouldn't suit him. He's quite good around Sandown, and this isn't dissimilar, so we'll get stuck in and give it our best. I can't give you any more confidence in him, all I can say is that he's been fine at home after an ordinary run last time out. 

3.35 - Ascot - Live Conti & Faivoi

We've got two in the big handicap hurdle of the day at Ascot: Faivoir and Live Conti. Harry [Skelton] rides Live Conti, who brings forward grade one juvenile form from last year. He was second in the juvenile hurdle at Aintree, and we've waited for the right time to run him since. He did go to Newbury three weeks ago, but we didn't run him on the day in the end. We've done loads of work with him, but this is going to be hard under a pretty big weight... he's not got top weight, but he has plenty of weight nonetheless. It's very hard for four-year-olds in big handicaps, as well, so I'm aware of how difficult this is going to be. But this is a good horse; he's had a good preparation, and I'd like to think he'll still go well despite that weight and age. 

Faivoir is used to these races, and he ran really well in the Greatwood last time... Heidi [Palin] has ridden him before, and does so again this weekend. He'd have to have an each-way chance for sure, and the more rain, the better for him. 

Haydock

12.20 - Haydock - Largy Belter

We've got a few runners at Haydock, starting with Largy Belter in a beginners' chase. He's had two nice runs to date over fences, he went straight over fences instead of going over hurdles, and he's equipped himself well with very good opposition so far. This does look like slightly calmer waters, but he's still the least experienced of them all, so it's going to be hard to say he'll go and win this. But I do feel like it's all coming together for him.  

12.55 - Haydock - Cobbler's Boy

Cobbler's Boy runs in a handicap hurdle, and is back after a bit of a break. The ground will probably be a bit too soft for him, and I do think he'll improve for this run. We've got to get him out there, so we're sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place at this time of the year, because the ground is pretty soft everywhere...

1.30 - Haydock - Pony Soprano

We've gone for this race for Pony Soprano because we feel like two miles on really soft ground is probably what he wants. The truth is that we've been scratching our heads a little with him though... he's definitely better at home than he is at the track at this point. Maybe he just needs a bit of experience, but he should go well here, based on everything we've seen. But I was a little bit underwhelmed with him the last day, so I'll be wanting to see a little bit more.

2.40 - Haydock - Supreme Malinas

Supreme Malinas runs in a good mares' novices' hurdle - we've always had this race in mind for her, and I know she'll like the soft ground. We're happy with her at home, and this is obviously a step up in grade, but she's in great form, so I think she's ready for this. She has won a listed bumper, and we're ready to give it a go with her.

Hereford

12.28 - Hereford - Twistthenightaway

Twistthenightaway is one of three we've got at Hereford on Saturday. She runs in a novices' hurdle, and I have to say I was disappointed with her last run, because I thought her first run was decent. Maybe there was something wrong, I don't know - but we're going to get her back out there and see how we get on. Put it this way, if she doesn't win here, I should imagine we'll be going chasing. She's a big strong mare and I've always wanted her to jump a fence... maybe she's telling us that we need to do that sooner rather than later.

2.13 - Hereford - Theonewedreamof

We run Theonewedreamof in a mares' handicap chase - she was second last week at Cheltenham and turns out again quickly. This is a valuable mares' race over a good trip for her (three miles-one)... as long as she can cope with turning out quickly, she's going to be one of the ones to beat, because she's in good form - two seconds and a win in three runs for us is a tidy profile so far.

2.48 - Hereford - Loriko

Then we run Loriko in a handicap hurdle, and I think the trip is good for him. The track should suit him as well. He's bumped into some very good novices' en route to his handicap mark, so let's hope the handicapper has allowed him a little bit of breathing space. It's as competitive a race as you'd expect for a few quid, but I don't have any negatives.

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