Dan Skelton Saturday runners blog: 'I don't have too many excuses for him'

Dan Skelton shares his first Saturday runners blog for 2026, previewing his five runners on January 3 at Sandown.

• Sinnatra - Sandown - 12:15 race odds

• Jet Plane - Sandown - 13:50 race odds

• Nurse Susan - Sandown - 14:25 race odds

• Le Milos - Sandown - 15:05 race odds

• Brace For Landing - 15:35 race odds

Sinnatra – 12.15 Sandown

We start with Sinnatra in a maiden hurdle and he is leading here on figures. He’s had two good runs over hurdles for us so far, coming second twice. I hope he can go one better as he has the numbers in the locker to do so. It’s a different track this time with different and decent opposition, but we are happy with our horse, and I hope he can get his head in front.

Jet Plane – 1.50 Sandown

Jet Plane runs in a middle distance veterans’ chase and carries top weight. He was pretty authoritative last time at Leicester and he is in the same form I feel. These old horses hold their form a little better than the younger ones and I think he will put up a good show despite carrying top weight. Fingers crossed he can follow up with a similar type of performance to last time.

Nurse Susan – 2.25 Sandown

Nurse Susan runs in a mares’ hurdle and reopposes a horse called Jubilee Alfa trained by Paul Nicholls. She is better off at the weights here, but our horse was well on top at Cheltenham last time in a handicap and I think she will run very well. Like I say, we have to contend with a slight weight difference this time but I do think we are up to doing that. It will be an interesting race but she’s in good form.

Le Milos – 3.05 Sandown

Le Milos runs in the Veterans’ Final Chase. It is a race we have had in mind for some time. Ideally we would have liked more rain. He is also top weight but off a mark of 140 and the mark probably isn’t beyond him but it is a competitive race which is what you’d expect for the £100k. I don’t have any negatives for him except we would have liked a bit of rain.

Brace For Landing – 3.35  Sandown

We finish with a horse called Brace For Landing in a handicap hurdle. He ran well first time at Stratford, then put in an ordinary run at Newcastle next time when we did fancy him. We put a pair of cheekpieces on him now, and drop him back to two-miles around this track which I think will really suit him. He wants a bit of softer ground which is a question mark but let’s get out there and give it our best. I don’t have too many excuses for him.

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