HARRY SKELTON: Newbury, Kelso and Bangor Saturday

It may be a more low-key weekend after Cheltenham, but it’s a busy one for us with plenty of runners at Newbury, Kelso and Bangor, writes HARRY SKELTON.

I’m at Newbury for four rides, and hopefully they hold chances in some valuable contests.

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NEWBURY

SATURDAY

GAMBINO – 1:15pm Newbury

He was fairly highly rated on the Flat and ran quite nicely for us first time out at Southwell. His schooling has been good, but this is his first start over hurdles and I think whatever he does here he will improve on. If he transfers his Flat ability to the jumps, he should run very well.

HELTENHAM – 2:25pm Newbury

He loves Newbury, but we wouldn’t want the ground to dry out too much for him as he’s at his best when the going is slower. He’s gone back up in the handicap now after winning last time but he’s still in good form and hopefully he can run well again.

GETAWHISKY – 3:00pm Newbury

She looks like she has a nice chance in the Grade 2 mares’ novices’ hurdle. We’ve had this race in mind for quite some time. She won nicely at Windsor in January and then ran well last time out at Market Rasen. I think two-and-a-half miles on this more galloping track will suit her well and hopefully she will go very close.

DIAMOND STREET & THE MAD POET – 3:35pm Newbury

We won this race last year with Kadastral and run two this year. I ride Diamond Street, who looks a really nice, galloping type of horse. He won well on debut at Doncaster and he’s a horse we’re excited about, especially when going over hurdles and fences in time. We wouldn’t want the ground to dry out too much for him but he’s a nice horse and we hope he can run well in what looks like a very competitive race.

I’ve always really liked The Mad Poet. He didn’t handle the undulations of Cheltenham very well last time but still ran okay to finish fifth. Before that he was a good winner at Wetherby. We’ve had this race in mind for him for quite some time and he’s been training nicely. This big flat track will suit him and he’s another horse we like.

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KELSO

SATURDAY

LISTENTOYOURHEART – 1:00pm Kelso

She’s got a few pounds to find with the top-rated Hollygrove Cha Cha. She’s stepping up in trip so it will be interesting to see how she gets on. If we could pick up some more black type with her that would be great.

FIRST CANDIDATE & BELLE LE GRAND – 2:10pm Kelso

The season didn’t start out how we wanted it to with First Candidate, but we’ve built her confidence back up and she ran nicely last time when a close second at Ludlow. Hopefully she’s progressing and going the right way now.

It was a step back in the right direction for Belle Le Grand last time at Market Rasen and hopefully she has an each-way chance.

DIAMOND DEALER – 2:40pm Kelso

He’s won around Kelso before. Stepping back down in trip shouldn’t be too much of an issue for him and hopefully he can go well.

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BANGOR

SATURDAY

DRAKARIS – 1:07pm Bangor

She’s run okay in four starts so far and needs to improve on that if she’s to win this novice hurdle. She probably will be of more interest further down the line once the handicapper has assessed her.

JOYEUX MACHIN – 2:15pm Bangor

This looks a nice opportunity for him back over three miles and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him run well here.

KNICKERBOCKERGLORY & IN THE AGE – 3:20pm Bangor

Knickerbockerglory loves it when the ground is really soft. He seems in good form and Harry [Atkins], who has ridden him before and knows him well, is taking off seven pounds. This is probably a bit less competitive than the races he has been running in recently and he could go well.

In The Age has a light weight on her back. He’s only a novice and is unexposed, and we’re hopeful he can perform well here.

SUPREME YEATS – 4:30pm Bangor

He’s been out of form and needs to take a step back in the right direction. Going back up to two-and-a-half miles will hopefully help. He prefers nice ground, so we’ll see how it is for him at Bangor.

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