Dan Skelton Saturday runners blog: 'I felt like I had to run him because he's in such good form'

Ladbrokes ambassador Dan Skelton has 12 runners at Cheltenham, Wetherby and Uttoxeter on Saturday, November 15. He previews them all in his latest blog.

Dan Skelton Saturday runners blog - November 15, 2025

Cheltenham

• Precious Man - Cheltenham - 12.35 race odds

• Be Aware - Cheltenham - 1.45 race odds

• Panic Attack, Hoe Joly Smoke & Riskintheground - Cheltenham - 2.20 race odds

• Supremely West & Prince Zaltar - Cheltenham - 2.55 race odds

• Royal Infantry - Cheltenham - 3.30 race odds

• Divine Diva & Katios Queen - Cheltenham - 4.00 race odds

Wetherby

• Sheezer Diva - Wetherby - 12.50 race odds

• Lirone Du Seuil - Wetherby - 3.10 race odds

• Heltenham - Wetherby - 3.43 race odds

Uttoxeter

• Rene's Walk - Uttoxeter - 12.42 race odds

• Choice Runner - Uttoxeter - 2.27 race odds

• Eastern Fire - Uttoxeter - 3.37 race odds

CHELTENHAM

12.35 - JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Registered as The Prestbury Juvenile Hurdle) - Precious Man

We start with Precious Man at Cheltenham on Saturday, who is a good juvenile addition from France and one who won in Auteuil earlier this year. We really like him at home, he's done plenty and we'll find out after this just how he fits in with the UK juveniles. He carries a penalty for that success in France, which is a little bit frustrating because you'd prefer for him not to have that, but he showed a good level of form in France to gain it, so it's something we have to live with. He's done everything right at home, though, and we're looking forward to getting him started.

1.45 - Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices' Chase - Be Aware

We've then got Be Aware in the Novices' Chase, and we've plumped for two miles here, just because we're going to get lots of rain on Friday, and I think that rain will really suit him against some fancy rivals in this field. We've got to step up on what we've done so far with him, but I thought his first chase run at Stratford was better than anything he's done over hurdles. We got some experience over hurdles last year without winning, which was a bit frustrating because we'd hoped we'd win a good handicap. But he's got plenty of experience for the game now, and we were really pleased with his chasing debut, so hopefully he can step forward for that.

2.20 - Gold Cup Handicap Chase - Panic Attack, Hoe Joly Smoke & Riskintheground

We've got three in the Handicap Chase here, Harry [Skelton] rides Panic Attack, and I think the rain will really suit her... we've had this race in mind for a while for her, the only thing she hasn't had is a prep run, but she has been for an away day, and based on her run at Windsor we're hopeful there's a bit more to come over fences. She's not a young horse, but she's a relatively lightly-raced one who we feel is in good condition. We're looking forward to seeing her here.

We've then got Hoe Joly Smoke in the same race. He didn't stay the trip at Cheltenham last time over three-miles and two furlongs, so we're coming back in trip. He's in great form at home, and I felt like I had to run him, just because he's in such good form. I was thinking of waiting for the December Gold Cup, but he's in too good form not to race here. I don't think the rain will be too much of a negative for him - I'm just looking forward to getting him back out there now.

Riskintheground is our third chance in this one, but I'd be a little bit concerned about him if we were to get all of the rain that's forecast, and the ground was really soft. We'll have a look on the day and make a decision. But he holds his form at this level consistently now, and he obviously won a Grade 2 back at this track in April, as well as an intermediate chase when he was wrong at the weights last time. So he's in good form, but we're just keeping an eye on the rain for him. 

2.55 - From The Horses Mouth Podcast Handicap Hurdle - Supremely West & Prince Zaltar

Harry rides Supremely West in the three-mile hurdle here, who was third the last day, having ran a nice race. I think he's as ready as he can be and he'll do alright here... the market has him as favourite though and I'm not convinced about that... it'll be nice to get him back out though, on a track he knows, under similar conditions, and hopefully he'll go well. I'm just not convinced there's been that much improvement in him.

Prince Zaltar is the other horse we've got in here, and he's one I think could improve - not because of fitness or anything like that, but I just think we could be a little bit more patient in the riding of him, and three miles here was suitable last time, but this time it's just about being even more patient with him, and hopefully he'll come home strongly off a low weight.

3.30 - Intermediate Handicap Hurdle - Royal Infantry

We then run Royal Infantry, a horse who I think has a good bit more to come. I think he'll improve for the Silver Trophy run and his form is working out very well. OK, we've got to shoulder top weight here, but that's what his form suggests. It's a tough race though, as you'd expect, but we're looking forward to getting him back out there. I think he'll be progressive this year. 

4.00 - Cheltenham Guardians Safeguarding Team Mares' Open National Hunt Flat Race - Divine Diva & Katios Queen

We've got two in the bumper: Harry rides Divine Diva who is new to us, but has won an Irish point-to-point and looked very tough on the day. She looks like she's got the type of mentality where we can just fit her in at the deep end. She's worked nicely, and while we're asking a lot of her here, it's something we're happy to do based on that mentality and physical work she's shown at home.

We also run Katios Queen in the same race, who won on debut for us at Fontwell, travelling well into that race and doing nothing wrong. She picked up well when she needed to there, and she's no back number, that is for certain. I think I won this race five or six years ago with her sister, so you never know... lightning might strike twice!

WETHERBY

12.50 - Novices' Hurdle - Sheezer Diva

We've got a few runners up at Wetherby, starting with Sheezer Diva in the novices' hurdle there. I think she'll step forward a good bit from that first run, but whether she can just go straight in is a different matter. I do really like this horse and she's going the right way now, having been one who has needed a lot of time to get to this point. 

3.10 - 'Introductory' Hurdle - Lirone Du Seuil 

We then run Lirone Du Seuil in the introductory hurdle, for horses who have only had one run over hurdles. He ran in France back at the start of the year and looks like a stayer of the future to me, so the rain will definitely help. The track will be really suitable for him... I like this horse. Whether he's a true two-miler, I would have my suspicions, but soft ground at Wetherby... it's not exactly a speed track, so I think that'll suit him. 

3.43 - Handicap Chase - Heltenham

Heltenham also runs up there in the last race of the day. Obviously everyone knows him, he's best left-handed on soft ground over two-and-a-half miles, and that's what he's going to have, so I don't have any excuses. He's had a run under his belt, so to be honest he needs to be stepping forward and going close in this, and then we'll plan out the rest of his season. 

UTTOXETER

12.42 - Carlsberg Britvic Mares' 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle - Rene's Walk

We've got a nice mare in Rene's Walk running in the mares' novices' hurdle at Uttoxeter. Her mother was a good horse for us, and I think this mare will just get better and better with age. Starting her over hurdles is a real positive, she wasn't a bumper horse at all, really; she's going to be a fine hurdler, but she'll be a better chaser. We just want to get her started and go from there, but I'd expect her to run well. I wouldn't necessarily say she's the one to beat in the field, but she's jumped nicely and she's ready to get started.

2.27 - Chris, Sue And Gail Birthday Celebration Novices' Hurdle - Choice Runner

We've also got Choice Runner in the novices' hurdle, and he actually fell at this venue last spring. He's a big, rangey horse with a lot of power. He will definitely be a nice horse in time, but he just looks a bit raw at the moment. I'd expect him to run tidily, but again, this isn't one who I necessarily think is going to just turn up and win.

3.37 - 1664 Biere Open National Hunt Flat Race - Eastern Fire

We then run a nice horse in the bumper called Eastern Fire, who has done loads of work at home and has gone well at home. He settles and relaxes well; that's the main thing with bumper horses, as they can come home strong on the slower ground if they do. We'll drop him in, get him relaxed and hopefully he can come through a good few of them. I think he'll run really well. Like I say, he's done everything right at home, so that suggests to me that he will go and run well here.

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