HARRY SKELTON: Aintree Festival Debrief

It was a brilliant Aintree for us, and we came away with plenty of winners, writes HARRY SKELTON.

What a day we had on Saturday – we didn’t win the National but we had four winners on the card, including two Grade 1s.

Mirabad started things off when winning at 50/1 and becoming Tristan’s [Durrell] first Grade 1 winner, which was brilliant for him. Bossman Jack won a Grade 1 and Heidi [Palin] rode a Grade 2 winner in the bumper. To top things off Dan secured a first Trainers’ Championship.

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First Trainers’ Championship for Dan

It’s now confirmed that Dan will pick up his first Trainers’ Championship at Sandown in two weeks’ time and I’m unbelievably proud of him.

At the end of the day there are a lot of cogs in the wheel and you need every single one of them. It’s very important to have all the right people around, but ultimately the ship is being steered by one man and you have to have those leaders too. Dan is a brilliant leader and has an unbelievable desire to win and to push a team forward. The way he gets people around him to work with him and keep pushing forward is a great skill.

We’ve broken prize money records this year and getting this first Trainers’ Championship is very much deserved. I’m really proud to be a part of Lodge Hill.

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AINTREE

THURSDAY

MAESTRO CONTI

He put in a big effort in the Triumph at Cheltenham and probably wasn’t over that, but he still ran well for a long way. He’ll have a nice, long holiday now. I think he’s a stayer in the making and probably a chaser too. It’s just going to take time to get there.

THE NEW LION

It was disappointing to get beaten. He travelled and jumped round very strongly, he was almost foot-perfect the entire way. Unfortunately, when we got racing, he just made a mistake at the last when it was costly. I think he’ll have learnt a lot from racing against older, more experienced horses this season and that should stand him in good stead. It was probably always going to be a bit of a hard season taking on those hardened horses, and he has just lacked a bit of experience. He hasn’t run badly in defeat and hopefully he’s learnt a lot. We’ll be looking forward to next season with him.

PROTEKTORAT

He ran his normal, solid race and gave his all. He’s had a great year and I’m very proud of him.

NAN’S CHOICE

She put in a good performance to win the bumper on the first day. She didn’t do a great deal when she hit the front, but she went through the race well and won very nicely. It was a good performance especially as we haven’t had her that long. It will be exciting to go over hurdles with her next season.

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AINTREE

FRIDAY

EMID’IO PEPE

I think he’s a horse for everyone to keep an eye on. He travelled really well through the race and did everything right. He’s a nice big horse that will go chasing next year, and is definitely one for the notebook.

SINNATRA

I thought he put in a big performance in Grade 1 company. When I jumped the last, I thought he might go on and win, but he still ran a good race. He’s had a fine year and will go chasing next season, which will hopefully be the making of him.

GREY DAWNING

He was brilliant in the Melling Chase. It was a great bit of training from Dan, dropping him back to two-and-a-half miles and putting cheekpieces on him helped to sharpen him up. He was very tough and battled on really well. He’s won two Grade 1s this season, so he’s been fantastic.

L’EAU DU SUD

He was disappointing in the Melling Chase. We took our time with him and thought he would travel into the race, but he never really picked the bridle up for Tristan. He’ll have a summer break now and then I suppose we’ll bring him back for the Shloer and go from there.

MADARA

He jumped and ran well for a long way in the Topham. He put in a big effort at Cheltenham, went up 10 pounds and that’s probably why he just came up short here. It was a good run and nothing to complain about. Hopefully he can be just as productive next season and we’ll probably start off in the Paddy Power.

HARRY LOWES

I thought he was a little bit unlucky in the conditionals’ race, when a mistake three out probably cost him. He definitely looks on the right side of the handicapper and it won’t be long before he’s winning a nice race.

THE MIGHTY CELT

He’s another to keep an eye on. He’ll probably step up in trip next season and he looks like he could be progressive over two-and-a-half miles.

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AINTREE

SATURDAY

MIRABAD

A bit better ground really helped him, and I think he probably got stuck in the soft ground the time before at Bangor. If you’d have said Mirabad would win a Grade 1 at the start of the season, we wouldn’t have believed you, but you’ve got to roll the dice sometimes and he was a good winner. It was brilliant for Tristan to ride his first Grade 1 winner too.

SUPREMELY WEST

I thought he ran well in defeat and kept going strongly. Cheltenham probably just took the edge off him. He was fresh and well for that run so the ground didn’t bother him there, but I think it probably wasn’t soft enough for him at Aintree on the back of his effort at Cheltenham. This time I think he wanted softer ground as he stays really well.

BOSSMAN JACK

He was a good winner of the Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle. I rode him a lot handier than at Cheltenham, he settled and went through the race well and then powered away on the run-in. He’s a classy horse and we’ve always thought a lot of him. He’s got a big future ahead of him, but I still think he’s quite raw and got a lot to learn. I think he’s got all the attributes to hopefully be a proper Grade 1 chaser and is a horse with masses of potential.

SOLDIER REEVES

He ran very well to finish second to Bossman Jack. He’s had a great season and has learnt as the campaign has gone on. He’s another horse that could be exciting going chasing and looks to have a good future.

TAKE NO CHANCES

She ran a mighty race to nick second in the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle. She’s a brilliant mare that doesn’t know how to run a bad race and is a pleasure to have around.

MR HOPE STREET

He stuck his neck out when it mattered and was game on the run-in. He’s only had four runs over fences this season and it was a great bit of training. It was great to get him to Aintree this time around after missing out on getting a run in a handicap hurdle at last year’s meeting. He got his chance this time around and he took it. Hopefully he can progress next season.

PANIC ATTACK

Unfortunately, she came down at the third fence in the National. She was just too big and brave and landed on the back of the fence. She’s absolutely fine and none the worse for it. We’ll dust ourselves down and possibly look at the Bet365 now.

FORTHFACTOR

He was very good in winning the bumper and was given a good ride by Heidi [Palin]. He looked like he was hanging quite badly to his left but once he got onto the rail, away he went and he powered clear. He has lots of potential and we’ll look forward to going over hurdles with him.

Heidi works very hard and deserves all her chances, so it was a brilliant day for her to land a Grade 2. It goes to show if you work hard and you’re good enough you’ll get that chance, so I’m delighted for her.

RISKY OBSESSION

I rode him in the bumper and I thought he ran well to finish sixth. I think he’s a horse that might need nice ground. He probably wants a bit of a break now and we’ll look forward to going hurdling with him in the autumn.

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