Dan Skelton Stable Tour

Form profile

144 rated chaser and 138 over hurdles. Grand National entry who has been mixing chasing and hurdling. Landed the Becher Handicap Chase at Aintree (3m 2f) in December by two and a quarter lengths from Gessville off a mark of 138 and subsequently finished runner-up, beaten two and a quarter lengths, to Glimpse Of Gala in a Pertemps Qualifier at Warwick (3m 1f) in January off a mark of 135.

Trainer says

Ashdown Lad runs this weekend, and we will see how he gets on there. He is qualified for the Pertemps - it’s going to be a very different race this year as you have to be in the first four to qualify and a very different dynamic. We will have a look at that closer to the time.

Form profile

138 rated hurdler. Pulled up in the Betfair Hurdle won by Aucunrisque at Newbury (2m 1/2f) last Saturday.

Trainer says

He ran disappointing the other day and goes to the Morebattle at Kelso, and we’ll see. He ran in that race and then the County last year, so it’s not out of the realms of possibility.

Form profile

146 rated chaser. Winner of two of her three starts over fences. Successful in her latest outing in the Grade 2 Hampton Novices’ Chase at Warwick (3m) in January when beating Complete Unknown 13 lengths.

Trainer says

She won the novices’ chase at Warwick and won very nicely. She is a big strong scopey mare and nothing really happened in the Feltham as she jumped on the second fence and halfway through the race Harry pulled her up. She put the record straight at Warwick and if you got soft ground at Cheltenham in the Brown Advisory getting 7lb I think she would be a certain player. I have entered her for the Mares’ Chase over two and a half this morning on a track that would suit her better (the new Course). If she didn’t get soft ground, she will probably miss as it’s imperative that she has slow ground. She’s a great big strong mare and everything is big about her.

Form profile

128 rated mare. Winner of both her starts over hurdles and had 13 lengths in hand of Lets Go Vegas when gaining her latest victory at Huntingdon (2m 4 1/2f) in January.

Trainer says

She pulled a muscle on that last day, but she is back now and worked this morning. I am happy with her and whether it’s appropriate to say we are off to Cheltenham I don’t know. We will see closer to the day.

Form profile

141 rated hurdler. Brought down at the second when 7-2 favourite for the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival (2m 4 1/2f) last March and gained some compensation for that mishap when beating Fils D’Oudairies a length and three quarters in a valuable Grade 3 Handicap Hurdle at Aintree (2m 4f) last April off a mark of 137. Finished eighth, beaten 35 lengths, to Marie’s Rock in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m 4 1/2f) in January off a mark of 142.

Trainer says

Langer Dan is going to get entries in the Coral Cup and the Martin Pipe. I have no idea why he runs so moderately in the autumn, and I hoped he would be a Relkeel type of horse and then keep your fingers crossed for a little more. I feel like he is coming back to something now but then he really has too and there is no messing around. He looks to me at home like he is, and he always runs well in the spring. He should have been first time lucky in the Martin Pipe but Galopin Des Champs ran.

Form profile

152 rated chaser. Progressing nicely this term and showed his liking for Cheltenham (2m 4 1/2f) when beating Stolen Silver two and a quarter lengths in the Paddy Power New Year’s Day Handicap Chase off a mark of 145 in January.

Trainer says

He won on New Year’s Day at Cheltenham, and I don’t like to use a word like that, but he was entitled to win a race like that after his run in the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November. I would really love the ground to be good to soft, soft in places for the Plate. My opinion on the ground is that if it’s not ideal ground to run him in the Plate it’s not going to be ideal ground full stop, so that’s why I would probably keep away from considering the Ultima. I think there are better options for him. He is a horse I think can take the next step and go to open graded company and I think he’ll improve for the step up to three miles.

Form profile

141 rated hurdler. Finished runner-up, beaten 11 lengths, to Theatre Glory in a Listed Mares’ Hurdle at Warwick (2m 5f) last weekend.

Trainer says

I think she will end up running in the Conditional Jockeys’ race rather than the Mares’ Hurdle. She ran nicely the other day - first time in a handicap might suit.

Form profile

134 rated chaser. Scored by three lengths from Moratorium in a Hunter Chase at Wetherby (3m) this month.

Trainer says

He is going to run in the Hunters’ Chase and Jack Andrews is going to ride him. He won the other day under our yard amateur Heidi (Palin), but she doesn’t have the experience to go there to be fair and by her own admission as well so Jack rides. He might have one more run beforehand.

Form profile

163 rated chaser. Showed he was a force to be reckoned with in top chase company when beating Altior in the Grade 2 Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton (2m) in December 2020 and when slamming Politologue by six lengths in the Grade 2 Shloer Chase at Cheltenham (2m) in November the following year. At his best when fresh and had an easy task when scoring by eight lengths from Ganapathi when taking the Shloer Chase for a second time last November. Subsequently finished runner-up, beaten 13 lengths, to Editeur Du Gite in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton (2m) in December.

Trainer says

I’m planning on having a dry spell for Nube Negra in the Champion Chase and then it can rain for approximately 20 hours before for the Friday for Protektorat – that would be perfect. It is a very open Champion Chase, and everyone has been beating each other and have reasons why they got beat and why they have improved. He won the Shloer which he should have done at 1-10 then I thought he ran pretty well at Kempton on really tacky ground which isn’t ideal for him. I’m not making any excuses on the ground as we were beaten by a horse who was clearly superior that day with those tactics and has gone onto frank the form in the Clarence House. This horse is very effective when he is very fresh, and he is effective at Cheltenham and the better the ground the better his chance. We are very happy to have our hat in the ring and we are very happy we can have him better than at Christmas. He is going well, and his preparation has been very good, and he has finished second in the Champion Chase before, and I hope he can go one better.

Form profile

136 rated hurdler. Off the mark over hurdles in a novice event at Wetherby (2m) in November when scoring by six and a half lengths, from Magic Wave and followed up with a 16 length success from Amron Safe in a similar event at Ludlow (2m) in December. Subsequently finished runner-up, beaten a length and a half, to Rock My Way in a Grade 2 event at Cheltenham (2m 4 1/2f) in January.

Trainer says

He was a non-stayer at the Trials meeting in the Grade 2 Novices’ Hurdle and that was the only small question mark. I thought he would stay, and he didn’t and we have to drop back in trip. He will be in the County Hurdle. The new course will suit him better than the old course. The County Hurdle seems to have suited us over the years and a lot of our horses suit the New Course.

Form profile

170 rated chaser. Finished third, beaten 17 ½ lengths, to A Plus Tard in the Grade 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup last March. Impressed when beating Eldorado Allen 11 lengths on his reappearance in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock (3m 1 ½f) in November. Finished only fourth, beaten five and a quarter lengths, to Ahoy Senor in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham (3m 1 1/2f) in January.

Trainer says

Protektorat goes for the Gold Cup, and I hold my hands up after the Cotswold Chase - I just didn’t have him as fit as I thought he would be. If we had gone into that race saying that was a prep run everybody would have said that was lovely prep run and he just blew up turning in and just stayed on to the line. That wasn’t the plan I hoped he would win and then come onto the Gold Cup but it’s not how it has worked out and I have explained in full detail why that run went like that. Based on last year when he finished third, he is a bigger and stronger horse this year and I think he has a real good chance. We saw at Haydock that when he is at his best, we can see just how good he is. We have knuckled down in the last couple of weeks since the Cotswold Chase and if he goes to the Gold Cup like he was at Haydock the run at Cheltenham can be put behind him. He is a confirmed stayer, and he has the experience of the track. Galopin Des Champs is a correct favourite, and he got the trip the last day - there is a question mark over whether he will get the three mile two at Cheltenham which Willie has answered positively, and I have no reason to doubt the trainer or the jockey for that matter. What I am getting at is that it is a very open Gold Cup, Galopin Des Champs aside. On our best Haydock form we are right up there. Drying conditions are a concern but the longer we go dry the more the chances it will rain and maybe it will all rain at once. He looks fantastic in his coat and his coat has pushed through completely. Protektorat looks absolutely magnificent and let’s hope he can go two places better.

Form profile

A winner of one of his two hurdles in France beating Arazzo seven lengths at Cagnes-Sur-Mer (2m 1/2f) in December.

Trainer says

He runs at the weekend, and he is in the Triumph, but the English handicapper’s opinion of the French races is less than you would need for a Triumph. We will see how he gets on at the weekend, but he could be one for the Fred Winter.

Form profile

149 rated chaser. Returned to winning form on his latest start in a handicap chase at Sandown (1m 7 1/2f) this month when beating Fast Buck a length off a mark of 143.

Trainer says

I think the reality is that he will go to Aintree but if the weather stays like this, he would have to be in. We know he really likes nice ground and it’s not often you get a chance to at a Festival on particularly nice ground for a horse like him. Everything came together the other day at Sandown, he got a great ride and he won nicely. I think it’s the first time he’s actually been down at the last and won, normally he’s got the race over by two out and has to last to the line. It’s the first time he’s knuckled down and really seen the trip out properly, which is very positive. He is a horse who I really think suits the Old Course - a fast track and bang on two miles. He would be an obvious horse for the Grand Annual.

Form profile

140 rated chaser. Finished third, beaten 13 ¾ lengths, to Stage Star in a novices’ handicap chase at Cheltenham (2m 4 1/2f) in January.

Trainer says

A four-runner Turners like last year where we could pick up some prize money could be appropriate but I’m sure that won’t be the case this year and the Grand Annual is the race for him. He slips between two stools over trip and doesn’t appear the fastest over two miles and then he doesn’t quite see out two and a half like you saw on Trials Day behind Stage Star. I have come to the conclusion that you are better off being a confirmed stayer over two miles and a fast run race will suit him. We are sharpening him up at home and trying to get a little more out of him and he was a very impressive hurdle winner last year. It didn’t go to plan at the top of the hill in the Coral Cup but that was on very unusual ground. He has put in respectable runs in novice chases this year without setting the world alight and let’s hope he can get his chance to run well in the Grand Annual.

Form profile

136 rated hurdler. Scored by a short head from Red Risk in a handicap hurdle at Kempton (2m 5f) in January off a mark of 130.

Trainer says

She has an entry in a £50,000 handicap at Ascot this weekend and she is a previous winner of the Lanzarote. I think she is an improving mare and I think her handicap marks underestimates her. She will get entries in the handicaps and in the Mares’ Hurdle. If I was able to run her this weekend by some miracle of rain we would take a view after that. If nothing came together and I wasn’t happy we could miss and go to Aintree. I wouldn’t be surprised if this mare took massive forward steps in the next few months, and she could even go chasing next year. She is very good and hopefully we get a smooth spring with her.

Form profile

139 hurdler and 135 chaser. Pulled up in his last two starts in handicap chases at Kempton (2m 4 1/2f) on Boxing Day and at Doncaster (2m 1/2f) in January but finished highly creditable fourth, beaten only five and a quarter lengths, to State Man in the County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m 1f) in March off a mark of 141.

Trainer says

West Cork, if we can get a run into him, could also go for the County Hurdle. He has definitely gone back to hurdles for good now - he has every right to refuse at a fence if I was ever to ask him again! He hasn’t really missed much as we wouldn’t have won the Greatwood as they took all the hurdles out and he wouldn’t win a Flat race. We should have gone for the Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle at Christmas and that got abandoned and he wouldn’t have run on the ground at Newbury last Saturday. I think you will find he is quite a fresh horse.