Dan Skelton Saturday runners blog: 'He carries leading numbers into this, and he is the rightful favourite'

Dan Skelton has 14 runners on Saturday, February 14, 2026 across meetings at Haydock, Ascot and Wincanton. The Ladbrokes ambassador previews them all in his latest blog.

• The Mighty Celt - Haydock - 12.55 race odds

• Kabral Du Mathan - Haydock - 2.05 race odds

• Dalston Lad - Haydock - 2.40 race odds

• Deafening Silence - Haydock - 3.15 race odds

• Nurse Susan - Haydock - 3.50 race odds

• Unexpected Party - Haydock - 4.30 race odds

• Coumeenoole - Ascot - 1.15 race odds

• Listentoyourheart & Kateira - Ascot - 2.25 race odds

• Joyeux Machin - Ascot - 3.00 race odds

• Heltenham - Ascot - 3.35 race odds

• Top Guy - Ascot - 4.10 race odds

• Burning Embers - Ascot - 4.45 race odds

• Jack Black - Wincanton - 3.23 race odds

Haydock

The Mighty Celt - 12.55 Haydock 

Harry [Skelton] is at Haydock for us, and we start with The Mighty Celt in the Juvenile Hurdle. He lost his way a little bit on his last start, but he’s got some very nice form from France and carries a big rating. It’s his first run for us and we need to know where we stand. I am thinking he will go for the Fred Winter rather than the Triumph Hurdle at this point, so we will get him out there and see where we stand. His work has been good and there is a bit of improvement in him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a horse for next season however as he might take a bit of acclimatizing. We shall see and hopefully he shows us that big rating.

 Kabral Du Mathan – 2.05 Haydock

Kabral Du Mathan has had a great year for us, winning two so far. I was going to go to the National Spirit at Fontwell next Sunday, but I fear the ground could be heavy there and I don’t want to do that to him. We were trying to avoid three miles until Aintree, but this race looks an appropriate spot on pretty acceptable ground so that is why we are here. I have been so happy with what he has done all year, and he looks in great form at home. He carries leading numbers into this, and he is the rightful favourite. I would like to see him get the trip now and I think it’s no problem for him. He is an exciting horse to have. We still hold the Cheltenham entry, but we are looking at this race first.

Dalston Lad – 2.40 Haydock

Dalston Lad runs in a Grade 2 novice hurdle. He won a competitive handicap around the track last time and that is good form. He looks really well and this is a race I have had in mind for some time. He’s one of the leaders on his handicap mark and he stays three miles very well so I am really happy with everything about him. He had a weird start to the season. He ran absolutely terrible at Cheltenham for whatever reason, and we treated him for ulcers afterwards. Thankfully he has left all of that behind and has become progressive. He had good bumper form last season, and we are glad to see him at this level. I think he’s got a big chance.

Deafening Silence – 3.15 Haydock

We run Deafening Silence in the big handicap chase. He ran really well last time in the Welsh National and was only beaten by four lengths. He ran well the time before that as well, so he deserves his place in these long-distance chases and hopefully there is one coming his way. His work has been decent at home and he looks outstanding…I have no negatives.

Nurse Susan – 3.50 Haydock

Nurse Susan runs in the Pertemps and she’s had a great season this year. She won a mares’ hurdle at Cheltenham and followed that up with a listed success at Sandown. I think three miles here will really suit her. She is in the form of her life on the track, and I feel like the more we step into the spring these fillies will hopefully turn in their coats more and more. We’ve had an unbelievably wet spell, but they do look like they are stepping forward already which is good. I would have to give her a fair chance. She has been consistent and she knows how to do it at this level. 

Unexpected Party - 4.30 Haydock

Unexpected Party won a Hunters' Chase last time which was great to see. He gets on well with Heidi Palin. He carries a high rating in this. There are a couple of others in this that have declared with good old back form as well. It will be competitve, but we'd like to think he will be one of the principles. If he's in the first three, he will qualify for Aintree...we would love to win.

Ascot

Coumeenoole – 1.15 Ascot

Down at Ascot, we start with Coumeenoole in a novice hurdle. The race has cut up a little and there could be some prize money on offer. What he has shown so far hasn’t been good enough to win though. The handicapper  from Ireland rated him quiet highly and that hasn’t transpired.

Listentoyourheart & Kateira – 2.25 Ascot

Kateira has been around a good while now and danced some big dances. I think she looks absolutely fantastic at the moment. I don’t think she ran too badly up at Musselburgh. I thought this was the best ground we could find for her. I feel like now she should be in handicaps but she does look like she could be a little high in this off top weight. She is very consistent though and fingers crossed there is a big run on the cards from her.

Listentoyourheart comes here off the back of a career best when she won a 100k race a Windsor.That was a great run and we have had this race in mind since really. We have been happy with her work at home…she is a pretty easy and straightforward horse to train. I would have to give her a chance. She has gone up in the handicap but she comes into this in great form.

Joyeux Machin – 3.00 Ascot

Joyeux Machin runs in the Swinley Chase, a 100k handicap chase. He was running really well last time in front at Doncaster begore he ski jumped a fence down the side of the track which wasn’t ideal. He came to a slithering halt. He is in good form at home, and we have always felt that he can win one of these races. He has knocked on the door in a couple of them, and I hope he can get his day in the sun at some point. He’s in great form and I can’t see why we wouldn’t get a good run here.

Heltenham – 3.35 Ascot

Heltenham runs in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase and obviously has a lot to find with the principles. I don’t think he will be troubling them but there is plenty of money down the line and he needs a clear round because he hasn’t had that the last couple of times. If he gets that and can pick up some prize money, then great. Hopefully a clear round will put things back together for him and we will head to Newbury in two weeks’ time for a race he won two years ago.

Top Guy – 4.10 Ascot

Top Guy runs in a three-mile handicap hurdle. It is a race I have had in mind for him for some time. He brings good form from Newbury where we bumped into C’Est Different who was always going to be hard to beat on the day. We threw our hat in the ring but couldn’t quite beat that one. But as I said, he’s got good form and I would have to give him a good chance. Having said that, it is ultra-competitive.

Burning Embers - 4.45 Ascot

This is a nice horse by Getaway who runs in the bumper. We are keeping an eye on the ground but hopefully it’s not too bad. She has done all her work at home well suggesting she will run well. I can’t just say these bumper horses will go and win first time up because it is such a big ask but I do like what I see from her.

Wincanton

Jack Black – 3.23 Wincanton

The conditions here are perfect for Jack Black. Very soft ground and two miles…he has to go and run well. He ran well at Taunton the last day and arguably Wincanton is a more suitable track. It is slightly more galloping and a better track for him, I think. We have no excuses and he should put up a good show.

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