Dan Skelton Saturday runners blog: 'Thistle Ask runs in the big race and he has been a remarkable horse this year'

Dan Skelton has 16 runners across meetings at Taunton, Haydock and Ascot on Saturday, January 17. The Ladbrokes ambassador previews them all in his latest blog.

• Rene’s Walk - Taunton - 1.32 race odds

• Jack Black - Taunton - 2.43 race odds

• Coumeenoole - Haydock - 12.50 race odds

• Soldier Reeves - Haydock - 1.25 race odds

• Dalston Lad - Haydock - 2.35 race odds

• Brookside La & Jasmine De Cotte - Haydock - 3.10 race odds

• Palamon & Kykorock - Haydock - 3.45 race odds

• Down To Business - Ascot - 12.25 race odds

• Nurse Susan - Ascot - 1.40 race odds

• Etalon & Heltenham - Ascot - 2.20 race odds

• Faivoir - Ascot - 2.53 race odds

• Thistle Ask - Ascot - 3.30 race odds

• Minella Marathon - Ascot - 4.05 race odds

Taunton

Rene’s Walk – 1.32 Taunton

We thought she would run a lot better than she did the last day, so that was disappointing. We are hoping to see a little bit more, but we do think she is potentially a chaser down the line.

Jack Black – 2.43 Taunton

Jack Black underwhelmed massively last time. We thought he would run a lot better than he did at Bangor. This race has cut up quite a lot and we will give it a go. He needs to show a lot more than last time as everyone has been patient and his work at home is good.

Haydock

Coumeenoole – 12.50 Haydock

Tristan Durrell is at Haydock for us and we start with Coumeenoole. He is new to us and we don’t know an awful lot about him. He has some form in the book from Ireland and we’re getting him started here in what looks a suitable race. His work has been ok but we don’t know that much about him.

Soldier Reeves – 1.25 Haydock

We run Soldier Reeves in a Grade 2 and we have had this race in mind for him for some time. He ran really well at Sandown the last day, having won really well at Cheltenham the time before, so he looks like quite a progressive horse. This is a much harder challenge taking on the Supreme ante-post favourite, but the soft ground should suit him, and we are very happy with his preparation for it and hopefully a big run is on the cards.

Dalston Lad – 2.35 Haydock

Dalston Lad runs in a three-mile handicap hurdle. He won the last day over two-and-a-half and we thought we should look at this as it’s worth a few quid. The trip should not be an issue. He is a previous point-to-point winner and he looks like he wants a trip.

Brookside La – 3.10 Haydock

He won on Boxing Day and is in good form and I think he still has a little bit in hand to be honest. Obviously races get harder and he goes up the handicap so it will get more difficult but I hope he has another big run on the cards and I don’t see any negatives.

Jasmine De Cotte – 3.10 Haydock

Jasmine De Cotte has a bit of form from Ireland. We don’t know that much about him yet and we are picking the most appropriate race to get started. He might want further.

Palamon – 3.45 Haydock

The same applies to Palamon. I have done as much as I can with him for the short time I have had him but will learn a lot more here. He works nicely.

Kykorock – 3.45 Haydock

He won his last two starts and is unbeaten over fences. He will love the ground up there and I think he is a big player. I am very happy with how things have gone for him this year.

Ascot

Down To Business – 12.25 Ascot

He was second the last day and ran really well. He’s definitely stepped forward in my opinion. This is a much warmer race but I think he will run really well again. It looks like stamina is his forte so a track like Ascot should suit him.

Nurse Susan – 1.40 Ascot

Hopefully we get plenty of rain and I know she steps back in trip, but she has lots of class and I am really happy with her going here. I hope she can go and get some more black type and if she can win, that would be great. We think we can win, otherwise we wouldn’t be running. I know it is a drop in trip but soft ground should bring stamina into play and she has plenty of class.

Etalon - 2.20 Ascot

Etalon runs in a two-and-a-half mile handicap worth a lot of money. He got an unbelievable ride the last day and went up in the handicap. I think it will be very hard now, but if he can get a similar type of scenario to last time, then he will outrun himself.

Heltenham – 2.20 Ascot

Heltenham fell last time but he will like the conditions…the trip, soft ground, and he’s got no weight at all. I have to say he is a little frustrating at the moment. We have gone from having a lot of consistency to not much. Hopefully if we can pick that up again we will go well.

Faivoir - 2.53 Ascot

I think two-and-a-half miles will really suit him. He ran well there last time but I think nowadays he is getting a bit older and this trip will be much more to his liking. He will also love the soft ground.

Thistle Ask – 3.30 Ascot

Thistle Ask runs in the big race and he has been a remarkable horse this year. I really can’t believe what he has achieved this year. However, it is a lot to ask going into this Grade 1, as we are taking on proper Grade 1 horses. He has never taken on anything like this before. He does have right-handed in his favour and he is in the form of his life so we have to give it a go. We are very aware how difficult it will be. He has been running in handicaps where he has been getting weight and all of a sudden he is in a Grade 1 against household names. We will give it our best shot.

Minella Marathon – 4.05 Ascot

We run a really nice horse called Minella Marathon who didn’t run so well the last day and we don’t really know why. He was only a four-year-old who has just turned five now, so a young horse and there is a lot more to come from him. I am not sure what happened that day but maybe I had the four-year-olds a bit fitter first time than second time. A couple of them went backwards after their first run, whereas the rest progressed forward. I am expecting much better from him. He is a horse we really do like.

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