Dan Skelton Saturday runners blog: 'With the weight off, he is quite dangerous over the trip'

Kempton

Burning Embers & Jollie Dame– 1.33 Kempton

We run two in the mares’ novices’ hurdle. Burning Embers took me by surprise in her bumper at Ascot. She flattened out and looked a real stayer. I thought she had a little bit more pace than that, but that’s fine, we don’t mind it and at least we know what we are dealing with. She is obviously a horse who wants a trip in time over hurdles, and this looks a suitable starting point. Jolly Dame has run in three bumpers now and hasn’t quite looked like she has the finishing pace in a bumper so hurdles it is. Statting at two miles is no problem and she will step up in time.

Chuggy – 2.08 Kempton

Chuggy runs in a novices’ handicap chase, and he had a great autumn. He went to Aintree on Boxing Day, the fences were out and that was a big negative for him, but he ran well regardless. I think he can resume in pretty good form on decent ground and it is a nice trip for him. It’s as competitive as you would expect and he is fresh and well and I think he will run a big race.

Royal Infantry & Tranquil Sea – 2.40 Kempton

Royal Infantry and Tranquil Sea run in a good handicap here. Royal Infantry ran well the last day and I am looking forward to getting him back out there. He’s had an up and down season to be honest but the last two runs have been pretty consistent at quite a high level, so I think he has quite a big chance here.

Tranquil Sea doesn’t look the best handicapped but back on spring ground would be a benefit for him.

Etalon & Shakeyatailfeather – 3.18 Kempton

We have two in a good handicap chase…Etalon and Shakeyatailfeather. Etalon was great at Ascot a couple of times…he won one and was third in another valuable race. He’s paying for that by being high up in the handicap. He can run well but I don’t think he can win off his current mark.

Shakeyatailfeather is coming into some sort of form. The weather is improving and the ground under foot is improving. I expect her to run well, but I don’t think we are quite there yet. Expecting a win is a step too far in this deep race I feel.

Uttoxeter

West To The Bridge – 1.50 Uttoxeter

West To The Bridge has been around a long time. He won last time and it’s probably too much to ask him to win again off a revised mark but he will put his best foot forward. He has been a great horse for us and in his teenage years, he continues to be a great horse.

A Pai De Nom, Just Golden, & Hidden History – 2.25 Uttoxeter

A Pai De Nom, Hidden History and Just Golden run in a valuable handicap hurdle here. I had this race in mind for Just Golden and young Harry Atkins rides him, taking weight off. He won a bumper on him last year and knows him quite well. With the weight off, I think he is quite dangerous over the trip so I would have to give him a fair chance.

I also have to give A Pai De Nom a big chance. He didn’t get into the conditionals race at Cheltenham, and this had to be the race to come for which is funnily worth the same money. Three miles is no problem to him, and he has been progressive this year. Another one we have to give a big chance to.

Hidden History is coming back over hurdles. He started the season well by winning over fences but it hasn’t quite worked out with him since. He’s had excuses and we treated him for ulcers. Hopefully the confidence grows coming back over hurdles and then maybe we will go back over fences…we will see. The other two do look more competitively handicapped by virtue of the fact that we are coming back from over fences with him.  I think he will run well because I feel he can win off his mark.

Deafening Silence – 3pm Uttoxeter

We have Deafening Silence in the Midlands National. He knows how to run in these big races, and he’s been placed in quite a lot of them this year and it would be lovely to get one on the board. He knows what to do and he’s in good form. This year he has been a pleasure to train. Before that he was inconsistent to train, whereas this year it has been a smooth run. He should go well.

Kykorock  - 3.35 Uttoxeter

Kykorock has obviously been running over a shorter trip, but it looks like he will stay especially after the last day. He is fresh and well and this is quite a valuable race so we thought we would try our hand at it. If he stays the trip, he will be very dangerous.

Kadastral & Holeheartedly – 4.10 Uttoxeter

Kadastral and Holeheartedly run in a novice hurdle. Holeheatedly hasn’t looked good enough to win a weight-for-age race but hopefully he can make a nice stayer down the line.

Kadastral is a good horse but was blunted by the bad ground at Newbury the last day. It’s too much to presume we would have beaten Sober Glory, but it was a good form run anyway. I think the step up in trip is a positive and I would like to go to Aintree after this.

Jasmin De Cotte – 4.45 Uttoxeter

We run Jasmin De Cotte who has been very disappointing since he’s joined us. His jumping is simply not good enough and he needs to get his act together to be truthful. We need to see more.

Sassiepants – 5.20 Uttoxeter

In the bumper we run a nice mare called Sassipants. I shouldn’t have run her the last day at Hereford…everything was happening too fast around a tight track. This track is much more to her liking with a long straight. She has had a bit of a break and looks great. She looks set for a good run.

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