HARRY SKELTON: Aintree Festival Day Two

We head into Day Two at Aintree with another strong bunch of runners, including the likes of Grey Dawning, Madara and L’Eau Du Sud, and hopefully a few of them can hit the mark, writes HARRY SKELTON.

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AINTREE

FRIDAY

EMID’IO PEPE – 1:45pm Aintree

I’ve got six rides on Friday, starting with Emid’io Pepe. He’s new to us but brings some quite nice form from France. We’ll learn a lot more about him after this run, but he’s done plenty right at home and has been training well. He’s very straightforward, which is always a plus. As for how well-handicapped he is, it’s hard to say at this stage, but he’s ticked plenty of boxes so far. Hopefully he can run a promising race.

DOYEN QUEST – 2:20pm Aintree

He comes into this contest nice and fresh, which is a big help. He’s had a really strong year, running well in Graded races all season. He does have a few pounds to find with some of the top-rated horses, but he’ll handle the ground and the track well. Three miles is no problem, and we’d like to think he can run a solid race.

SINNATRA – 2:55pm Aintree

He’s shown some good form this year, and I thought he ran really well in the County Hurdle. Going back into novice company in a small field should suit him nicely. Sober Glory will be tough to beat, but there’s some decent prize money up for grabs, and it’s a good opportunity to give him a bit more experience before he heads off for a summer break. Hopefully he can pick up some good money along the way.

GREY DAWNING & L’EAU DU SUD – 3:30pm – Aintree

We’ve dropped Grey Dawning back to two-and-a-half miles and added some cheekpieces just to help him at the trip and keep him sharp. He’s in good form and has come out of the Gold Cup really nicely. He ran a great race that day, and getting into the first four in the Gold Cup is never easy, so it was a very promising effort. Obviously, it’s tough running again so soon after the Gold Cup, but we’re looking forward to getting him back out there. Heartwood looks the one to beat, but hopefully we won’t be far away.

L’Eau Du Sud steps up in trip from two miles which will hopefully help him. They went a very strong gallop in the Champion Chase that day, and with the speed we were going on some decent ground he did feel as though he wanted a step up to two-and-a-half miles. I think he’s definitely worth a go over it. He seems in good form after Cheltenham. Obviously, I can only ride one of them and I’ve gone with Grey Dawning, but L’Eau Du Sud is a class horse and hopefully he can show some improvement over this trip.

MADARA – 4:05pm Aintree

Madara heads for the Topham Chase, and we’re really looking forward to him running. He won well at Cheltenham, and although the handicapper has had his say, he’s only seven and still improving. There’s some brilliant prize money for this race, so it’s good to have another go with him here. He seems really well at home after a reasonably light campaign. Hopefully he takes to the fences, and if he does, he should be right there at the finish.

DALSTON LAD – 4:40pm Aintree

He’s hardly done anything wrong this year and is a hardy, tough horse, that is very straightforward and in good order at home. It’s a big test for a lot of these younger horses, but he’ll take it in his stride. This has always been his main target – we were never that keen on Cheltenham as we felt this would suit him better. Being fresh should also be a big advantage, so hopefully he puts in a really solid run and I think he holds every chance.

HARRY LOWES, THE MIGHTY CELT & CHARLUS – 5:15pm Aintree

We run three in the conditional jockeys’ race. Tristan [Durrell] rides Harry Lowes, who has won a couple of novices this year. He was a bit unlucky when bumped at Windsor two starts ago, but I think he’s nicely handicapped off his rating. He’s got to handle it all, though, and it’s a bit of a different occasion for him as he’s used to smaller-field events, but he’s a promising horse going the right way and should hold a strong chance.

We also run The Mighty Celt, who put in a good effort to finish sixth in the Fred Winter. I think this race will suit him, and if they go fast up front, we’ll ride him a bit handier. I think he’s just coming right and he shouldn’t be far away.

Charlus also takes his chance. He’s been out of form and needs a bit of a miracle really. He has to get back on track, and while the handicapper has given him a chance, based on what he’s been showing, he’d be more of a watching brief.

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