Dan Skelton previews his Boxing Day runners at Kempton and Wetherby

We have been flat out getting ready for Christmas and I am pleased to say we are now all set for Boxing Day, which hopefully will be a big day for the stable.

We will have runners at Kempton and Wetherby, with Harry riding at Kempton. He has a good chance in the first race where we have Third Time Lucki (12.40).

I have had this race in mind for him for a bit, after it looked like it was going to be way too soft for him at Ascot, which it was in the end.

I am looking forward to running him on a track like this and on better ground. I think he is a very good horse who can go very close here.

Alnadam (13.15) runs in the novices handicap chase to which he brings a nice bit of form from both of his runs this year. The rain is a help and I’d like to think he can be very competitive again. He is in very good form at home and looks like he is a much better chaser than hurdler.

Shan Blue (13.50) runs in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase. Again this is a race I have had in mind for him all season. He looked good over 3m at Wetherby. He hasn’t run since but that’s not a concern. His work has been good, his jumping has been good. We go there full of optimism and the track will not be a problem.

Riggs (15.35) contests the last. He won last time and this is a step up in grade. I wanted to find the best ground we could for him because I think he was finding it hard work in the end at Uttoxeter, where he probably won despite the conditions. I’ve been happy with how he looks and how he has been going.

At Wetherby we start with Global Harmony (11.50) who won last time at Wincanton. She is a nice progressive mare who I think will again go very well.

Shannon Bridge (13.28) runs in a two and a half mile handicap. Bridget won on him last year at Uttoxeter over two and a half. Maybe I’ve been guilty of thinking 3m is his trip, when it is actually two and a half so we will give that another go.

We also have Spiritofthegames (14.05) in the Rowland Meyrick. He carries top weight. Normally he would go to Cheltenham and run in a big handicap there and finish placed. We thought if we keep doing that we will only get the same result.

So we are mixing things up a bit here. I’ve been very happy with him and look forward to seeing him run.

Supremely Lucky (14.40) runs in a handicap hurdle. It doesn’t look like he really likes fences that much despite being a big scopey horse by Milan.

I think he might be better over hurdles so we are giving them a try. He’s been well at home.

Happy Christmas

Dan