Dan Skelton Saturday runners blog: 'There’s lots to come from him'

The latest Dan Skelton Saturday runners blog has landed. The Ladbrokes ambassador previews all his action on December 27 at Kempton, Chepstow and Wetherby.

• Phineas Bunce - Chepstow - 12:00 race odds

• Little Wren - Wetherby - 12:25 race odds

• Maestro Conti - Kempton - 12:45 race odds

• Storminhome - Chepstow - 13:05 race odds

• Miss Cynthia - Kempton - 13:20 race odds

• Kaldoun Des Rocs - Chepstow - 13:40 race odds

• Mirabad - Kempton - 13:55 race odds

• Square d’Alboni - Wetherby - 14:15 race odds

• Thistle Ark - Kempton - 14:30 race odds

• Harper’s Brook & Madara - Wetherby - 14:45 race odds

• Deafening Silence - Chepstow - 14:50 race odds

• Prince Zaltar - Kempton - 15:07 race odds

• Ink Black Heart - Wetherby - 15:20 race odds

Maestro Conti – 12.45 - Kempton

Maestro Conti runs in a juvenile hurdle for horses who’ve only had one run. He was an impressive winner in France. We have done plenty with him and think he’s a nice horse. We think he could improve off this run though. He should go well in this but we don’t think this is the best he’s ever been and he is a horse for the future. There’s lots to come from him.

Miss Cynthia – 1.20 Kempton

Miss Cynthia makes her debut for us in a mares’ hurdle. We have her entered a few times over Christmas but picked this race because she has shown that she stays three miles in the past. We have obviously never run her before but she goes nicely at home. I can’t tell you much about her handicap mark but she was second in a listed race and hopefully the mark isn’t beyond her. She is fit and hopefully she goes and runs well. We are really looking forward to getting started and will know a lot more after today.

Mirabad – 1.55 Kempton

Mirabad runs in a Grade 2 novice chase. He won last time out over fences at Exeter and that was a much-improved performance for us as he was just a bit more ridable. We ran him in the Greatwood Hurdle and he was a bit keen, but fences have definitely helped him settle. We are in the deep end here, up against horses who have graded form. We’ve never tested that before and will step into that arena hopefully. I think he is a straightforward horse and we can run well. We can always come down in grade but we will chuck our hat in the ring.

Thistle Ask – 2.30 Kempton

Thistle Ask runs in the big race, the Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Handicap Chase. He’s had a phenomenal run for us winning three pretty quickly a few weeks ago including the Haldon Gold Cup. Right-handed, nice ground, and everything is in his favour here. The only thing he has to contend with is a 5lb ride in the handicap and whether he’s up for that, we will soon find out. I have given him a freshen up since in his last run and he is flying around the place. He looks great and I think he will run well again.

Prince Zaltar – 3.07 Kempton

Prince Zaltar runs in a handicap chase. He was frustrating the last day at Doncaster. It looked like he was getting going the whole way up the straight but it never happened. I’m not saying this track will be any better or worse for him but it is a different track. We retain the cheekpieces and Harry [Skelton] is riding him. I would like to think he will be competitive. To just say he will go and win is a different matter. Like I said, I thought he could just go and win at Doncaster but it never really happened so we just need to get back out there.

Phineas Bunce – 12pm Chepstow

Phineas Bunce runs in a novice hurdle and this looks a very deep novice hurdle but having said that he hasn’t looked like he’s going to win a novice yet. We are ok to be in this race and I am sure he will run nicely but I don’t expect him to win. He will make a fine chaser down the line.

 Storminhome– 1.05 Chepstow

Storminhome makes his seasonal reappearance after time off with a leg injury. All seems alright at home and although I think there are races to be won with him, I think he will just sharpen up for this run.

Kaldoun Des Rocs – 1.40 Chepstow

Kaldoun Des Rocs runs in the big juvenile hurdle, reopposing horses that beat him last time. It will be very hard to beat Macktoad obviously and we are going into this with our eyes open. We know we have a nice horse. He is probably more a chasing type but we’ve got to get experience into these horses and this looks an appropriate track and ground. He has come out of his last race ok, and although we would have liked a bit longer between runs, we just need to give it a go.

Deafening Silence - 2.50 Chepstow

Deafening Silence runs in the Coral Welsh Grand National. He would have an each-way chance. I think the most important thing in these races is a horse that stays the trip and he will. He should just keep galloping and whether he is good enough, time will tell. He had a good run the first day at Newcastle, and all he did was stay on at the end. We have had this race in mind since the last outing and he ran well that day.

Little Wren – 12.25 Wetherby

Little Wren disappointed the last day. I thought she would run nicely and she never showed up. Young Harry [Atkins] rides here with another 7lbs off. She has absolutely no weight in this race and she should go well. 

Square d’Alboni – 2.15 Wetherby

We run Square d’Alboni in the juvenile hurdle. He was a good horse on the flat, especially as a two-year-old. He lost his way a little as a three-year-old but he has jumped nicely at home and is ready to get started. There is no pressure in terms of win expectations. If he wins, great, but I am not going out there saying he has to win. Hopefully he can win, but if he’s still a little green with the jumps, we can improve that. 

Harper’s Brook & Madara – 2.45 Wetherby

Harper’s Brook won this race last year under a fine ride and he will need another fine ride to do so but he ran nicely the last day at Exeter and I would have to give him a chance. He’s not getting any younger but he knows how to win these big races. He’s a bit of an enigma and you need to be a bit cautious with him from a betting perspective. He is in good form though.

Madara comes here off the back of a long layoff and I think he will need the run. We have done loads with him, and I thought this race was a good starting point. He should be there or thereabouts but he should run well for the run.  

Ink Black Heart – 3.20 Wetherby

Ink Black Heart runs in the bumper. He a very nice big chestnut horse. He ran well in the bumper at Wincanton. We bought him since and like what we see. He is a big horse who should like this track. We have done lots with him but the last five percent is still in there. He is going to improve a little bit for it, but he is not unfit and I expect him to go well without saying he has to win.

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