Gwennie May Boy continues Skelton march at Aintree

Dan Skelton improved his already impressive record in handicaps at the major meetings when Gwennie May Boy continued his rapid improvement in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Aintree.

Having won the Grand Annual and Coral Cup at Cheltenham with Unexpected Party and Langer Dan respectively, Skelton plundered another valuable prize on Merseyside with Kateira on Friday.

Last year’s winner West Balboa appeared the stable’s first string in the Grand National day curtain-raiser, going off a well-backed 11-4 favourite under the trainer’s brother, Harry, but this time around had to make do with minor honours behind a stablemate on a steep upward trajectory.

Gwennie May Boy, who had won both of his first two races since moving to Skelton from Jonjo O’Neill’s yard, looked like he had just joined in at the second-last under Charlie Todd and the 9-2 shot scooted clear from the final obstacle to score by seven and a half lengths from Lord Snootie.

Skelton said: “I have to say I genuinely thought West Balboa would win, especially after Kateira won yesterday, and there was nothing separating them at Kempton Park on the run before.

“I am astounded at the improvement in this horse. He is still only six years old which is remarkable. Walking around beforehand I thought he was a bit light, and might be over the top, but what do I know as it is clearly how he likes to be. I’ve not had him all that long to be honest with you.

"He has just been a remarkable little horse. I didn’t even work him out before I ran him at Bangor, I just ran him, and then obviously thought that was a bit unexpected. I knew there was a £100,000 race at Uttoxeter, so I thought we better go for that. Then there was this here, which was obvious. It really is remarkable how that horse has improved and done that. I’m very proud of him, and West Balboa. He came to me and I didn’t know how good, or not good, he was, he just got on a roll. He works terribly at home, but he saves it all for the track.

“He could run again this season. I’ve got to talk to the owners of West Balboa, but she will go chasing next season. We did have half a thought of going to France, but whether we shelve that now we will see.”

Todd, who won the race two years ago on Party Business for Ian Williams, said: "I'm absolutely over the moon. We travelled so well throughout and I just tracked the pair in front of us. They've obviously gone very hard early and the race kind of fell apart from three out and he's been very game and he's stuck on very well.

"I'll leave it down to them (the Skelton team) with what we do and where we go, but they are a very hardworking team and they deserve all the success they get.

"That was very good. We travelled very well throughout and he jumped impeccably. They went hard early on and we were able to pick them off one by one. He’s a funny little horse, really, because as the race is developing he’s going along minding his own business, but as soon as you ask him to come alive, he’s like a little whippet. He’s not shy of a bit of boot, anyway.

“I was lucky enough to ride him round Uttoxeter when he won a good handicap hurdle round there, and then I mentioned to Dan that this race would be r ight up his street, and he said he’s in there already! I fancied my chances coming into today, and I’m just lucky that I was on him and Harry [Skelton] wasn’t.

“I’ve actually won this race before - two years ago on Party Business.”

Christian Williams, trainer of the runner-up Lord Snootie, said: “We thought last year that he was one of our better horses and we were looking forward to staying chases, but that got put on the back burner for another year. He’s had a bit of a slow season and didn’t quite face the tongue-tie at Uttoxeter - put a line through that run; the owner was very understanding, and we took the tongue-tie off and had a nice race today, so hopefully he will be back at Aintree over the big fences one day.

“The winner looked well-handicapped; take the winner out and just to be involved in these races and finish second in these premier handicaps at these big meetings is why we train.”