Login
WATCH FREE
50+
Dan Skelton column: inside track on my Saturday runners
By Dan Skelton
Last Updated: Fri 30 Oct 2026
Champion trainer and Ladbrokes ambassador Dan Skelton has eight runners at Ayr, Ascot and Wetherby on Saturday.
We were really pleased with how last weekend went as Cheltenham marked their official start of the Jumps season. Friday was a little frustrating: we had horses run well without winning. I wouldn’t say they had excuses for not winning, but it was competitive stuff.
Here Comes Georgie winning the big £100,000 chase on Saturday was brilliant. It was his first run for us and, he wasn’t an expensive purchase as highlighted by the press. Getting him there in such great shape was a real team effort.
We also turned North Shore out pretty quickly after Chepstow, where we felt he’d told us something. We put the cheekpieces on and they really helped. I’m really happy with how things are going.
We’ve already had more winners than in any previous October, and there are still a few days to go. We’ve had to work hard for it, travelling up and down the country to find the ground.
Harry covered 1,700 miles last week, spending 28 hours in the car, so that gives you an idea. The additional meetings have been very welcome, giving us a few more opportunities on slower ground. The bandwagon rolls on this weekend.
£30 in free bets when you bet £5 with Ladbrokes
18+ New UK+ROI Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 6 x £5 free bets (selected sportsbook markets only, valid 7 days, stake not returned). Restrictions + T&Cs apply.
12.43 Ayr: The Skecher
The Skecher won a bumper at Ayr and ran in the champion bumper nicely. This is a tidy-looking novice hurdle and definitely a competitive race, that’s for sure. I like this horse a lot; and he will see the trip out very well. Two miles is the minimum for him, but he will gallop out well and the softer ground should suit him.
1.10 Wetherby: Palamon
Palamon should have won last time but got blocked three times by his opposition around Plumpton, which I know can happen around a tight track, but it was frustrating. Let’s hope we can go close here. It’s a competitive-looking race and we will give it our best shot.
1.45 Wetherby: Kateira
Kateira won this race last year and is leading on numbers. She would have to run well. She ran at Chepstow a couple of weeks ago and ran OK, but this is much more like it for her and I would have to give her a big chance.
Join Racing TV for FREE and watch all the action from Wetherby, Down Royal and the Breeders' Cup!
2.00 Ascot: Shakeyatailfeather
Shakeyatailfeather is our only runner at Ascot in a very valuable two-mile chase. I have to give her an each-way chance. We didn’t get the chance to run her in the spring as she had a small injury: it was a small cut to her hind leg that kept her off the track. It wasn’t anything structural and hopefully now she can go and be competitive. She is off a mark now where she should start to look pretty threatening. Whether she can just go and win a £100,000 race remains to be seen, but she definitely has a squeak.
2.18 Wetherby: Take No Chances
The same can be said for Take No Chances. She ran at Chepstow like she does at the start of every year and then she comes to Wetherby. She has to try and beat Strong Leader again. This time, though, she hasn’t got a class one penalty, so she’s actually better off in the weights than she was last year, but Strong Leader is a very hard horse to pass.
2.55 Wetherby: Riskintheground and Pic D'Orhy
We run two in the Charlie Hall Chase. Riskintheground is the outsider in the field and I’d imagine that’ll be borne out. He’s not competitive in handicaps right now because he is too high. He has a great spring and then has to suffer the rest of the year, but that’s his way of life and we can’t argue.
Pic D’Orhy has been trained for this race. He was second in it last year when he had a class one penalty. He doesn’t have one this time and is leading on figures. I know very little about him as I have only had him this long, but I have watched him in all of his races and he is such a genuine, honest, straightforward horse. He likes nice ground and I think he has a great chance. We will go and give it our very best go.
3.37 Ayr: Tales Of Bravery
Tales Of Bravery runs in the novice handicap chase. He won last year and I think we actually underachieved a little with him. He pulled a muscle on his last start, so that was frustrating and there was another win in him last season I thought. Now he goes chasing, he can do better. We always bought him to go chasing and now he gets his chance to do that.
£30 in free bets when you bet £5 with Ladbrokes
18+ New UK+ROI Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 6 x £5 free bets (selected sportsbook markets only, valid 7 days, stake not returned). Restrictions + T&Cs apply.
Racing TV encourages responsible gambling - to find out more click here to head to our dedicated website page.
Related posts
Charlie Hall Chase: runner-by-runner guide and verdict
2026 Breeders' Cup tips: Rachel Candelora's five best bets
Breeders' Cup: assessing Aidan O'Brien's powerful team
2026 Breeders' Cup tips: Katie Midwinter's selections
RaceiQ: the ten best jumpers over hurdles
Featured offers
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets + Money Back as a Free Bet if 2nd to SP Fav with BOYLE Sports
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. T&C's apply. 18+. IRE/NI & UK online only. Max Free Bet £/€10. Win or win part of e/w outright singles. 5+ runners. 1st bet on each race. Free/void/antepost bets don't qualify. In event of a dead heat, offer won’t apply. Applies to First Past the Post result. Unnamed 2nd Favs don’t qualify. Acc & Payment restrictions apply. T&Cs apply.
Get 50% back up to £50 with QuinnBet
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
New UK Customers Only. Bet £10+ on any sportsbook markets at odds of evens (2.00) or greater. Get 50% back of your first day’s losses as a Free Bet up to £50, valid for 7 days. 18+ GambleAware.
Bet £20 and Get £40 in Free Bets with Unibet
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
18+. GambleAware.org. New GB customers only. Min £20 debit card or instant banking transfer deposit. Place a £20+ bet on Horse Racing at min odds 2/5 (1.4) each leg for 4x £10 Free Bets (can be used on Racing Bet Builder). Claim within 30 days. Valid for Horse Racing only. Geographical restrictions and Further T&C’s apply
Bet £10 get £40 in free bets with Kwiff
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
New UK customers. Place a £10 real money bet at min. 2.0 odds within 5 days of deposit. Get 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 Single, 2 Accas & 1 Bet Builder (min. 3 selections each). Excludes cashout, E/W, Multis, Ineligible Markets & Odds Boosts. Credited after bet settlement. 7-day expiry. T&Cs apply. 18+ GambleAware
Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets with talkSPORT BET
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
New Customers. Opt in, deposit and bet £10+ on any horse racing markets within 7 days of sign up. Get 3 x £10 Free Bets for set horse racing markets. Bonuses expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. 18+ GambleAware
Copyright 2026 Racing TV - All Rights Reserved.
Please bet responsibly
Copyright 2026. All rights reserved