HARRY SKELTON DEBRIEF: Aintree Winners, Al Capony Impresses & Cheltenham Plans

It’s been a successful few days with winners up at Aintree, including an exciting performance in the bumper, and Sunday saw us get on the board at Ffos Las too, writes HARRY SKELTON.

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AINTREE 

FRIDAY

RISKY OBSESSION

He stayed on well to win. I think he’s a horse that you could even see step right up to three miles in the spring. We’ve always liked him so it was nice for him to get off the mark over hurdles and hopefully there’s a bit to come. We’ll probably take the hood off him next time.

LYSSENKO

We were very happy with him. I thought he ran a very good race, staying on nicely from the back of the last. He’s a horse that will appreciate when the rain comes, and when it arrives, I could see him stepping up to two-and-a-half miles in the spring. He’s a horse to keep an eye out for.

ROYAL INFANTRY

He got into a good jumping rhythm out in front and it was great to win a nice little pot with him. He’s a horse that has some good form and it was great to see that he is properly back on track now. He’s had a good season already really and we’re looking forward to what lies ahead for him.

MIRABAD

He didn’t do a whole lot wrong in the Haldon Gold Cup but just got beaten by a better horse on the day. He ran well and there weren’t really any excuses.

HERE COMES GEORGIE

He did jump out to his right, which made it quite difficult for me to get him into the race, but he then started to stay on quite well from the back of two out. He’s a bit of a quirky character and I think we might take the hood off him next time. This wasn’t a bad run though, and I think he’ll get any trip.

QUAVISTE

I probably rode him too prominently. He ran with the choke out the whole way and just didn’t finish his race off. He’s better than that.

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AINTREE

SATURDAY

OLD COAST ROAD

While he only faced one other rival, it was good to get him off the mark over hurdles. He jumped well and two-and-a-half miles seemed to suit him. Hopefully he has a good season ahead of him.

KADASTRAL

He was disappointing. He never really got into any rhythm and he does tend to do everything left-handed, which is a bit frustrating. That limits us as to where we can go with him. This was a poor run to be honest, and certainly wasn’t the start we were hoping for. He’s better than this and we need to get him back on track now.

TALK TO THE MAN

He ran really well in the Rising Stars. Running down to the last, I thought I might go on and win, but to be fair to the winner, he pulled out a bit more when I got to him. He hadn’t really been in that sort of battle before and I think he will learn plenty from it. This was a really good run and there were no excuses. I think we can step up to three miles with him when we deem it necessary, and hopefully there’s more to come from him when we decide to step him up in trip.

BOOMBAWN

I was never really happy and he didn’t run his race. He raced on the front end but didn’t finish off his race well at all. It was a bit disappointing, but we’ll put that behind us and see where we go next with him.

ETALON

He’s stepping back in the right direction, but the handicapper has to help him. He finished fourth, beaten 20 lengths and is weighted right up to the hilt at the moment. He needs a bit of relief and when he gets that, hopefully he’ll go closer.

AL CAPONY

We didn’t expect him to win quite like that! He was very impressive and never came out of first gear. He’ll now go to Cheltenham on New Year’s Day for a junior bumper, against his own age group. He was very exciting on Saturday and looks to be going forward too.

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FFOS LAS

SUNDAY

LITTLE PATIENCE

He won his bumper at Ffos Las, and the track really suited him. This was a good performance. He stays all day and we’ll probably go over hurdles with him now.

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