Dan Skelton column: inside track on my Saturday runners at Cheltenham

Dan Skelton has 14 runners across four meetings, including Cheltenham, on Saturday. The leading trainer and Ladbrokes ambassador shares his views on each runner below.

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Cheltenham runners

12.35 – Top Guy – Cheltenham

Top Guy will be ridden by Heidi Palin who has had a heap of winners for us and knows this horse from home well. This horse should step up in trip on some nice ground positively I think. It is very competitive as you would expect but we are very happy.

1.45 – Kabral Du Mathan – Cheltenham

Kabral Du Mathan runs in the big novice chase. Obviously, Old Park Star runs here, which is really exciting for racegoers. I am really happy with our horse. He didn’t win the Supreme, but he is a high-class hurdler, and he won very well on debut over fences. I have been very happy with him since.

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2.20 – Blueking D’Oroux, Madara, Riskintheground – Cheltenham

Blueking D’Oroux is a new horse to us but has some high-class form from last year. It looked like his form was actually improving in the springtime, and maybe he has a little bit left on his mark, as he was a higher-rated hurdler than he is a chaser. So maybe there is a little bit more to come.

Madara is super consistent. He loves this track and ran very well over hurdles. I think he will go very well here, but we will just have to check the ground, and I feels like that will be 50/50.

Riskintheground is about as good a 66/1 shot as we will ever run. He was third in a Grade 2 last time out. It was a great run, and Harry Atkins takes 5lb off. He runs well around the track, and the horse is massively overpriced.

Two have win chances, and one has a definite each-way chance.

2.55 – Ace Of Spades – Cheltenham

He carries top weight, and I think the handicapper has him too high. He will run his race like he always does and has the benefit of a run. He should go well, but I think to win, he’s still too high in the handicap.

3.30 – Moneygarrow – Cheltenham

I think there is unfinished business with this horse over hurdles. He jumped the last like he would go really close in the Albert Bartlett but didn’t stay the three miles, so I think coming back in trip is a good thing for him. His handicap mark is appropriate, and he can be competitive off it for sure. I think he has got a massive chance.

4.00 – Soleretta, Northern Singer – Cheltenham

Harry rides Soleretta in the mares’ bumper. She had a good run in a point-to-point in the spring and I think she was going to win that day. She had a fairly big reputation from that performance. We like what we see at home, although I do think our other runner, Northern Singer, will prove to be very tough opposition. I was very impressed with her at Chepstow, and this track will really suit her. Harry can only ride one, but there’s little in them.

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Uttoxeter, Wetherby and Windsor runners

12.07 – Lunar Orbit – Uttoxeter

Conditional rider Billy Marshall is taking 7lbs off. I think the trip is good for him, and he will definitely have a chance. He ran well last time after sprawling on landing the time before.

12.13 – Loriko – Wetherby

Loriko will be ridden by young Dom, who takes 10lb off and is the highest-rated horse in the field. Hopefully, it works out as simply as that. He had a good run over fences the other day when he sprawled on landing at the last in a match race at Warwick. But he was running really well, and going back over hurdles is no issue. 

2.30 – Palamon – Wetherby

Palamon was unlucky not to win at Plumpton on his penultimate start. He then ran OK at Wetherby in a similar type of race. This isn’t as competitive and is over a shorter trip, and I think he would have a big chance. Form will tell you that, but it will also tell you he’s not got anything in hand.

3.05 – Down To Business – Wetherby

Down To Business underwhelmed last time, but we found he had a little issue and have corrected that, so hopefully he will run really well. I think he is nicely handicapped. I wouldn’t expect an absolute firework display from him, but what you saw the other day was not him, and I think we will get back to winning pretty soon. There is plenty of progression in him.

3.10 – Misterdoc – Windsor

He finished second last time and ran really well. He will benefit from that run, and this is a competitive race, but I think he will progress. I can’t say he’s got lots in hand as he was beaten in a handicap last time but these 4yos can improve.

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