HARRY SKELTON: Weekly Debrief

Langer Dan ran okay at Newbury; he just got a bit tired before two out, writes HARRY SKELTON.

He will get the three-mile trip but that’ll come into the spring as that’s when he thrives. He’s just been a tricky customer at home at the moment, he minds himself a bit and never really overdoes it, he’s a very hard horse to get fit first time out. We were happy enough, but he ran as expected, there’ll be more to come from him.

The New Lion got the job done nicely in a bit of a muddling race. It doesn’t really matter to him, though, he’s very easy going and jumps nicely. He’s a really likeable horse. It was a good performance, and we really believe in this horse. He was the only one that was still able to take the last on the bridle. We’re not sure where we’re going to go next, we’re keeping our options open, but we don’t think he’ll want the deep, testing ground of the winter months. We’re hoping to get him to the spring Festivals and one day we’ll be hearing a lot about The New Lion.

Galia Des Liteaux ran a creditable race; the ground was just too lively, and the others quickened away from her. We’re looking to go to Chepstow for the Welsh National which should be right up her street. She hasn’t run badly so I think she’s got a nice chance heading there.

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Rest of Newbury

We thought Asta La Pasta ran a good race and stayed on well at the line. We thought this track would suit but he’s a work in progress. His jumping was okay, but he’s got a lot to learn, he just likes to rush a little too much, which can get him in trouble. We’re going to try him at Kempton next over Christmas over two-and-a-half miles right-handed which is what he wants, so I expect him to go very well there.

Listentoyourheart put in a tough performance when staying on strongly and managed to finish her race out really well which was encouraging. She was tough in the finish when she needed to be and winning that opens up a lot of options for her as we head into the spring, she’s heading in the right direction.

Heltenham ran a fine race, but the ground wasn’t soft enough for him. He always takes a couple of runs so we expect him to come on plenty for that one. He hasn’t got the really soft, heavy ground that he wants, he thrives when the race falls into his lap, as opposed to quickening up at the end. His jumping felt fine, and has been a bit iffy in the past, but you need to ride him cold as if you put him in the race too soon, he’ll just start charging and his jumping suffers. Once the rain comes, you’ll be seeing him at his best.

Le Milos ran well, but he doesn’t look to be the horse of old. He ran a good race but just lacks that gear you need at the backend of the race. That said, he didn’t disgrace himself whatsoever. The handicapper will take a couple of pounds off as he’s not the horse he once was, but nothing can take the races he’s won away from him! He’ll be winning again but they’ll be races lower in our sights.

Midnight River just hasn’t been finishing out his races, he’s been a bit disappointing. He’s only had two rides this year, but I felt at Wetherby and Newbury that he’s been very tame around three out. We need to find out why that is.

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Fighting Fifth Hurdle

Obviously, Mystical Power blew out for some reason in the Fighting Fifth and then it looked a penalty kick for Sir Gino. It’s easy to say that, though, but he still needed to go out and do it, and he did so quite easily. There wasn’t much to dislike about that run. There’ll be plenty of tough opponents on the horizon though, the likes of State Man, Lossiemouth and others. He’s just a four-year-old and he’ll keep improving so you can only imagine he’ll be a live chance wherever he goes next and a Champion Hurdle contender.

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Hatton’s Grace Hurdle

Lossiemouth was mightily impressive with Teahupoo running just shy of his best. She put the race to bed very easy from the back of the last and used her speed. I think she’s very, very good and I know you should never compare horses, but Honeysuckle was the queen of her era, and now we’ve got Lossiemouth. Going into the Champion Hurdle and getting seven pounds off the boys will be a big issue for them. There’s a long way to go until the Festival in March, but I’d be siding with Lossiemouth now. The longer the horses like Constitution Hill are off the track, the harder it gets to get them back to their peak and I’m sure Nicky Henderson is itching to do that.

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