HARRY SKELTON: Ascot & Haydock Saturday

We’ve got a fair few runners heading to both Ascot and Haydock on Saturday, a few of whom hold good chances, writes HARRY SKELTON.

Hopefully we can pick up some decent prize money this weekend as an early Christmas present!

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ASCOT

SATURDAY

MOUNT GAY RUN – 1.15pm Ascot

This is a big step up in trip from his last run, but that run did him a world of good and has brought him on nicely. He’s racing off a competitive mark here and the trip shouldn’t be an issue, he’s really fit and well. I think he’ll hold every chance, there’s no reason to believe otherwise.

ETALON – 1.50pm Ascot

He ran well at Fontwell but then took a step backward at Newbury, so he’s got to put that run behind him. He’s been dipping in and out of form this season but he looks competitively handicapped if he’s at his best. We’re putting on cheekpieces for the first time and we need him to get back on track, he’s got the ability but just hasn’t been able to be consistent. He wants a bit further now so we’re upping the trip and hopefully that’ll help.

LIVE CONTI & FAIVOIR – 3.35pm Ascot

I ride Live Conti. He’s only a four-year-old and we’ve given him plenty of time since his run at Aintree back in April. He ran well but was beaten that day by a nice filly of Willie’s [Mullins]. We’ve done loads of work with him at home, but this will be a different test for him. It’s a big competitive handicap but we think he’ll be a two-and-a-half miler in time, we see him as next year’s chaser. He should gain some good experience in these bigger handicaps and that should stand him in good stead moving forward. We’re hoping he can run a competitive race.

Faivoir also runs for us here. He’s in really good form after a nice performance in the Greatwood at Cheltenham to come third. We’re hoping for a little rain as both he and Live Conti prefer a bit of cut in the ground. I think he’ll have come on for that last run and knows how to run well in these big races off a competitive mark. He saves his best for these big races, and I think he’s got a good each-way chance here. Heidi [Palin] takes the ride again and gets on really well with him, they should be bang there.

HAYDOCK

SATURDAY

LARGY BELTER – 12.20pm Haydock

He’s a bit of a work in progress. He’s gaining experience in some strong novice chases so we’re hoping things will start to drop into place for him soon. He’ll probably be better off in handicaps once he’s got a mark but that said, he hasn’t run badly in his two competitive novice chases so far this season. Hopefully he’ll get more experience here and get a mark after this, and I’m sure he’ll be winning soon.

COBBLER’S BOY – 12.55pm Haydock

Win, lose or draw here, he will come on for the run, he needs it. We’ve done as much as we can with him at home as he’s a keen-going type of horse but he got the job done at Warwick last time and has come on since then. We’re looking forward to getting him back on track but I feel as though he’ll need this run to blow away the cobwebs.

PONY SOPRANO – 1.30pm Haydock

I think he has a good chance. He’s in good form and was going really well at Exeter last time out but made a mistake early on which knocked us out of rhythm. Two miles on soft ground is what we think he needs and we’ll let him race prominently, get in a good rhythm up front and hopefully he can run well. He’s better than his result at Exeter and barring that mistake, I think he would’ve gone a lot closer.

SUPREME MALINAS – 2.40pm Haydock

There are a lot of boxes ticked for her here. Soft ground, just over two miles and a run under her belt already. She’s in really good form and has a great chance. I think she’ll go very close to winning and although she’s not the biggest mare, she makes up for it in heart and determination. She’ll handle conditions well.

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