Dan Skelton Stable Tour

Form profile

144 rated chaser and 138 rated hurdler. Winner of the Becher Handicap Chase over the National fences at Aintree (3m 2f) in December when beating Gesskille two and a quarter lengths off a mark of 138. Finished third, beaten 11 ¾ lengths, to Wakool in the Grade 2 Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock (3m 1/2f) when last seen out.

Trainer says

We have decided to go for the Topham with Ashtown Lad as there is a big doubt over whether he has the stamina for the Grand National. If you look at last year’s Scottish National that question mark is there but in the Topham we can be aggressive he loves the fences and that is a great way to ride him around there.

Form profile

137 rated chaser. Winner of his two completed hunter chases this season beating Magic Saint three quarters of a length at Hereford (2m 5f) in January and returned to winning form on his latest start at Fakenham (3m) in March when scoring by 11 lengths from Sir Jack Yeats.

Trainer says

Not That Fuisse and Benny King run in the Foxhunters, neither have been around the track before but both I think will be fine with it. I am very with how they have been so why not go take a chance for a £50,000 hunter chase? Most hunter chases are five or six grand races. They are both very well and they are both above average for hunter chasers.

Form profile

139 rated chaser. Scored by a nose from Pay The Piper in a handicap chase at Doncaster (2m 1/2f) in March on his latest start off a mark of 137. Had previously shaken up Jonbon in a match for the Grade 2 Kingmaker Novices’ Chase at Warwick (2m) in February.

Trainer says

Calico will probably run in the Maghull Novices’ Chase and will have an entry in the Red Rum Handicap Chase as well. He obviously gave Jonbon a bit of a fright for a couple of fences at Warwick and has won since. He has plenty of experience and I would like to think the track will suit him.

Form profile

146 rated chaser. Finished a creditable fifth, beaten 16 ½ lengths, to The Real Whacker in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham (3m 1/2f) in her latest start.

Trainer says

Galia Des Liteaux will run in the three-mile Mildmay Novices’ Chase. She wants it as soft as possible. She ran very well at Cheltenham, and I think she can be very competitive.

Form profile

Winner of five of his 6 starts and currently rated 141 over hurdles. Finished runner-up, beaten a length and a quarter, to Man At Work in a novices' hurdle at Aintree (2m 4f) in November but has little trouble going one better in a similar event at Exeter (2m 1/2f) in December. Continued his progress with a length and a half defeat of Bourbali in a handicap hurdle at Kempton (2m 5f) on Boxing Day off a mark of 123 and added to that success when scoring by five lengths from Ginny's Destiny in the Grade 2 Leamington Novices’ Hurdle at Warwick (2m 5f) in January.

Trainer says

Grey Dawning is a fresh horse for the three-mile Sefton Novices’ Hurdle and that counts for a lot. He is a lovely horse and I expect him to run well.

Form profile

128 rated hurdler. Winner of her three races over hurdles and completing her hat trick with a 19-length victory from Shelikesthelights in a mares’ novice hurdle at Market Rasen (2m 1/2f) in February.

Trainer says

Kateira runs in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle. I think she is a very good mare and I think getting 7lb will make her threatening. I know she hasn’t got a leading chance on handicap mark, but I think she is going the right way.

Form profile

152 rated chaser. Made a winning reappearance in a handicap chase at Bangor (3m) in November when scoring by four and three quarter lengths from Lord Du Mesnil off a mark of 142 and followed up with a half length from Remastered in the Grade 3 Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Newbury (3m 2f) later that month off a mark of 146. Subsequently runner-up, beaten three quarters of a length, to Empire Steel in the Listed Premier Chase at Kelso (2m 7 1/2f) in March.

Trainer says

Le Milos is in good form for the Grand National and it is a race we have had in mind all season. He’s has had a couple of awaydays and has improved dramatically since Kelso where he needed the run. You need plenty of luck in the National, but he goes there at the top of his game.

Form profile

134 rated chaser. Scored by three lengths from Moratorium in a Hunter Chase at Wetherby (3m) in February and subsequently runner-up, beaten five and a half lengths, to I K Brunel in a similar event at Taunton (2m 7f) later that month.

Trainer says

Not That Fuisse and Benny King run in the Foxhunters, neither have been around the track before but both I think will be fine with it. I am very with how they have been so why not go take a chance for a £50,000 hunter chase? Most hunter chases are five or six grand races. They are both very well and they are both above average for hunter chasers.

Form profile

135 rated hurdler. Unplaced, beaten 24 lengths, to stablemate Favoir when sent off 9-2 favourite for the Grade 3 County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m 1f) in March but had previously finished runner-up, beaten a length and a half, to Rock My Way in a Grade 2 novices’ event at Cheltenham (2m 4 1/2f) in January.

Trainer says

It didn’t come together for Pembroke in the County Hurdle as a novice, and he will be back in novice company at Aintree in the Top Novices’ Hurdle. He is back in admittedly very good novice company, but we think a lot of him.

Form profile

132 rated hurdler. Ran well when third, beaten three and a half lengths, to Hacker Des Places in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (2m 1f) in January off a mark of 129 and returned to winning form in a novice event at Warwick (2m 3f) in February when beating Henri The Second four and a quarter lengths.

Trainer says

Pikar has been kept fresh for Aintree and we haven’t made a final choice of what race to go for yet.

Form profile

150 rated hurdler. Finished fourth, beaten nine and a half lengths, to Brewin’upastorm in the Grade 2 National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell (2m 3f) in February when last seen out.

Trainer says

Proschema has been kept fresh for the Liverpool Hurdle and nice ground suits him. When he is fresh, he is at his best and he would have to have a chance in the Liverpool Hurdle.

Form profile

135 rated chaser. Gained his last success in a handicap chase at Lingfield (2m 4f) in January when beating Enzo D’Airy 12 lengths off a mark of 125.

Trainer says

Sholokjack will have an entry in the Mildmay Novices and the two-and-a-half-mile Manifesto Novices’ Chase. I think he is a high-class novice it is just yet to really fall into place for him and I think it will in time.

Form profile

148 rated chaser. Returned to winning form in a handicap chase at Sandown (1m 7 1/2f) in February when beating Fast Buck a length off a mark of 143. Ran a very creditable race in the Grand Annual Chase at Cheltenham (2m) in March when fourth, beaten 11 lengths, to Maskada off a mark of 149.

Trainer says

Third Time Lucki ran very well at Cheltenham and has a very good chance in the Red Rum Handicap Chase at Aintree on Thursday.

Form profile

135 rated hurdler. Scored by a short head from Red Risk when last seen out in the Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at Kempton (2m 5f) in January off a mark of 130.

Trainer says

West Balboa runs in the three-mile handicap hurdle on the Saturday. I am very pleased with her, and we have kept her fresh for this. She would have to go well.