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Fair play to the Skeltons. They’ve improved again this season and have come out all guns blazing for that trainers championship. It’s a joke that the National is even included as one race shouldn’t hold so much weight.
Well done Mike and I came to the conclusion that there is nothing the Irish would have to fear in a KG or GC.
Though I must admit this was a perfect Skelton ride and the horse most likely will get a break until the Denman Chase as a prep for the Festival. Can’t see him going to the DRF.Learnt from last year – RP ran a great race and it might have been closer had he not met all the fences up the home straight on the wrong stride which lost him vital momentum.
That being said this form is light years away from what is required for a Gold Cup, a race in which I would be very doubtful over him seeing the trip out against much more thorough stayers. He could be another Wayawrd Lad/Florida Pearl/One Man type in that he just gets found out over those last 2F up that hill.
Nice work Mike. Well done the Skeltons. He’s a fine horse Grey Dawning – good jumper, great attitude and an on-song Haiti Couleurs would have made no difference there (I thought for a second he was going to refuse to start). Interesting challenge now for the Skeltons. After such a visually easy victory, will Dan be tempted yet again by Kempton? I suspect he will.
Skeltons are on fire just had a 16/1 winner Calico.
Nice one Mike. He Made it look easy.
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...Last season Willie won £3,570,991 in prize money. This season Dan Skelton stand at about £1,500,000. He’ll need another two million, if he wants to have a chance.
The one race in between has to be the Denman.
He’d have absolutely no chance in the Gold Cup. They should skip Cheltenham altogether then pick up valuable prizemoney at Aintree and Sandown.
The Denman chase or Ascot chase and then straight to Aintree would be my plan.
You’re right, GM. If I would be going for the Trainers’ Championship I’d rather pick up 200k at Aintree and Sandown, rather than 17k for a 5th place in the GC. It’s simply not worth it. But, if you’re an owner you might have every right to go for the Gold Cup.
Ruby – Its the obvious one but having one race in four months going into a Gold Cup doesn’t seem the greatest plan although I guess he will likely be the freshest horse in the race.
Doesn’t help that they don’t seem to like going right-handed with him so that does narrow the potential races available to run him in pre Cheltenham.
Haiti Couleurs probably came back too quick after his hard seasonable debut run – wouldn’t rule him out of a Gold Cup just yet as that is a true staying test that will suit him but he will need to sharpen up his fencing technique to be able to hold a position at the faster pace they go in G1 chases compared to long distance staying handicaps. If he can do that, it wouldn’t surprise me if he finished in front of Grey Dawning in a Gold Cup especially if we get soft or more testing ground.
LD, I agree with that scenario. But, an OR of 154 (and Haiti Couleurs didn’t do anything today to confirm it) won’t be enough for a top 4 finish in a Gold Cup. The quality of horses coming over from Ireland is just too good and there will be no margin for error for a then 9yo.
For those concerned about one run between the Betfair Chase and the Gold Cup, don’t be. A Plus Tard did it.
Hopefully Haiti goes down the National route now.
“Hopefully Haiti goes down the National route now.”
He should and also protect that low mark he has right now. A weight of about 11-00 would be very likely.
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