Cheltenham November meeting has Skelton’s attention this weekend

On Saturday, we go to Cheltenham for the November Meeting and Shannon Bridge is our first runner in the Novices’ Chase.

Ideally he would’ve wanted a bit more rain but he jumped brilliantly around here last time and I am really looking forward to getting him going again.

He’s not the highest-rated horse going into the race but I think he will run well, he’s in good form and has taken a step forward from last time.

Virgilio runs in the Handicap Chase and he been a great horse for us. He ran well at Wetherby a fortnight ago and I can see him putting in another strong effort again.

Realistically he’s off a very high mark but hopefully he can go and run well on this nice ground.

We are also at Uttoxeter, where Beakstown runs in the maiden. I have been looking forward to getting him started and two-and-a-half mile is a nice starting point.

We want to start his season off well and build on it. He’s an exciting horse. We also run Goodthyneaway in the race but he looked moderate at Wetherby on his last run.

In the Novices’ Hurdle at 2pm, we run Tokay Dokey who has won around here before over hurdles.

He’s under a penalty this time but we like him a lot and we have to see if he can manage a penalty before going up in grade.

Again the ground will be fine for him. Tigeralley runs in the race too, but she looked limited at Fontwell.

Molly The Dolly is nearly the highest rated in the Mares’ Novices’ Chase.

She jumped great around Aintree last time and it’s nice to be able to run her in a mares’ only event. I am looking forward to running her and hope she keeps progressing now.

Premier Rose, who won last time out, is up next in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle. She has been a good horse for us actually and I am sure she can be competitive again here.

Sunday

We are back at Cheltenham on Sunday. In the Conditional Jockeys’ Race, we run Solo Saxophone. He didn’t run badly last year in the Fred Winter.

However, he ran a real moderate race the other day at Market Rasen. I hope he can put that behind him and we see better from him here.

One For Billy runs in the Racing Post Arkle Trophy Novices’ Chase. He’s been brilliant for us all summer and the ground has held out for him which is great. This is a very hot race but he jumps well and goes well around the track, and it would be lovely to get some compensation for last time.

In the Greatwood Hurdle, we run three. Mohaayed will be ridden by Bridget Andrews.  Obviously we all know she had a great day in the County Hurdle with him.

He seems to have stepped forward from Ffos Las too which is good. Harry Skelton will ride Nube Negra, who ran well in the Fred Winter.

We’ve had this race in mind for him the whole time and we’d like to think he’s going to be really competitive.

Not That Fuisse will be ridden by Will Marshall who only has 9st4. That could bring him into play. He’ll love the good ground and he won two novice hurdles on the bridle.

He didn’t run badly under a double penalty either against Seddon at Stratford last time so perhaps he is overpriced.

In the Supreme Trial, we run Any Time Will Do. He’s won two in pretty quick succession and now with the experience, he takes a step up in grade which he is ready for.

He’s a really nice horse and I hope he can cope with this step up. It’ll be interesting to see how he gets on but hopefully it’s a fast run race and the ground is decent so he’s got everything he wants.

We also have a runner at Fontwell on Sunday – Potters Approach in the Southern National.

He won last time and is a real honest horse. He’ll stay the trip well. Whether the track is tight enough for him or not, we will find out but I am happy with him and think he has a big chance.

Dan