Dan Skelton previews his runners at Ayr, including Oldgrangewood in the Scottish Grand National
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We are really looking forward to the Coral Scottish Grand National day at Ayr, run on Sunday this year.
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We start the day with King D’argent (13:15) who has been absolutely fantastic this year and loves good ground. He got his act together over fences after having a dull year over hurdles in the year after his juvenile season which is often a difficult one.
He is flying at the moment, the track will suit him. It’s a big step up in class but I am very happy with him
Flegmatik (13:50) runs in the novices’ handicap chase. This is highly competitive but I felt his run at Uttoxeter was an improvement and on this better ground I think will see the trip out even better. He did win on decentish ground at Carlisle in the autumn and Harry [Skelton] feels he should be better on this ground.
Calico (14:25) runs in the Scottish Champion Hurdle, a race I’ve had in mind for him for a long time. We had to get him qualified so we ran him quite quickly after his previous run, his third run which he won at Warwick. We won this with Ch’tibello and this is a high class Flat horse with plenty of pace, who will love the track and decent ground. I am looking forward to him.
Allmankind (15:00) runs in the novices’ chase and I’ve been very happy with him as well. He looks fantastic. The only potential negative would be whether he has run too many times but we won’t know that until he runs. It’s a long time since he started work last year but he is a robust horse.
We missed Aintree with him so there is a bit of freshness there. I don’t think two and half miles will be a negative. I feel he will keep galloping.
Oldgrangewood (15:35) runs in the Scottish National. He is taking on a brand new trip but he is a strong travelling horse, who has kept good company, and in a race like this we can ride him tucked in. If he doesn’t stay he will get to three out and not stay. We are not going to force the issue with him.
I am very happy with how he looks. I feel like he has a definite each-way chance. He normally picks up one good prize a year and he hasn’t done that yet. Hopefully he will find loads of improvement over this new trip.
Dan
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