Stabletalk: Dan Skelton discusses his 13 runners this weekend

4.20 Haydock – Aintree My Dream

Aintree My Dream is fairly handicapped on his novice form. He was fourth in a good novice at Sandown in early December. The track will be ideal, the trip is perfect and the soft ground will suit him. It’s his first dip into handicap company of course but he’s definitely got a chance.

It’s easier running a novice in handicap company over hurdles than it is over fences in the majority of cases. When it comes to chasing you don’t want to dip them in to handicap company too soon because they can get found out. However novices often do well in handicap hurdles as they are more likely to be unexposed compared to their opposition.

2.20 Taunton – Willow’s Saviour

This is a Veteran’s hurdle which suits this horse. It’s been well supported which I feel supports my view that there could be Veteran’s races run over hurdles as well as fences and over differing trips. Willow’s Saviour is coming down to a mark where he can definitely be dangerous off. It’s the right trip for him but he needs a step up in form. The more the handicap helps him the more chance he can find that winning opportunity.

4.00 Taunton – Calling Des Blins

I think the track will suit her. She likes a bit of decent ground. I’m very happy with her coming in to this and have been waiting a while to run her. We need to get started with her to know where she is.

4.30 Taunton – Robin Of Locksley

Robin Of Locksley would prefer to go left handed but there is a shortage of races and we need to start him over fences. If he put his best foot forward off his current mark he’d be very dangerous but he hasn’t fulfilled his early promise just yet. Having said that running over fences could make a big difference to him. He’s been jumping well at home.

SUNDAY

1.00 Fontwell – Al Reesha

I think this is us versus one of Philip Hobbs, Tearsofclewbay. It’s a tidy little race between two nice horses. I really like ours, and think that the softer ground that she gets this time will be in her favour. I think she’ll go really close.

1.30 Fontwell – Mister Grez and Bertenbar

Bertenbar is a regular around Fontwell, and this time carries a bit less weight than normal over a bit further than normal. It’s hard to find races for him as he either has to run here or go right handed.

Mister Grez is back in the type of grade he’s won at before, and over fences. I think he’ll go well. Both or ours should run creditably.

Bertenbar  is thirteen years old but you wouldn’t know it. There’s no secret to keeping these older horses going, some do and some don’t and Bertenbar is one of those that doesn’t show their age at all.

2.00 Fontwell  – Theatrebar

He won his first start for us after a long layoff up at Sedgfield. We were ‘umming and ahing’ over where to go with him but we settled on this race. I think he’s got a great chance as long as he doesn’t suffer from a second run syndrome, that bounce factor following a run after a long layoff. But we’ve given him plenty of time so he shouldn’t suffer from that ‘bounce factor’. I do really like this horse and I think he could be progressive.

2.30 Fontwell – Hinton Indiana

It’s a small field and he’ll get the trip really well. I don’t know if the ground is ideal, although he ran okay in it a couple of times in hunter chases I think he’s probably a better ground horse. This is not a great race, it’s a 0-100 and it’s very winnable.

4.00 Fontwell – Whatzdjazz

She’s a nice horse, a half-brother to Welsh Shadow, and is really tough. She’s a typical bumper horse for us as has done lots of work and should be ready for this debut, but at the same time improve for it.

3.50 Hereford – Master Jake

He ran really well the other day. He was second at Market Rasen and just bumped into one that was seriously well handicapped. I think the trip is ideal, the track will be fine, and he’ll run another solid race. I’m not saying he’ll win but he’ll run well. The jockey is Bridget and Gina’s brother, and he’s on track to be one of the best young amateurs in the country. He rides out with us a bit and he needs chances. He’s ridden winners ‘under rules’  and hopefully he’ll ride a few for us as well.

Fancy any of Dan’s runners? Then get yourself over to Coral and get your bets on for the weekend!

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