HARRY SKELTON: Cheltenham Friday

It’s great to be heading into Cheltenham’s two-day Christmas Meeting in strong form after landing a treble at Warwick on Thursday, writes HARRY SKELTON.

Cherie d’Am was impressive in the Listed Mares’ Novices’ Chase and we should have plenty of big days to look forward to with her going forward.

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CHELTENHAM

FRIDAY

COUNTRY MILE – 12.10pm Cheltenham

He ran a good race up at Haydock last time in what were quite testing conditions. If he hadn’t made two mistakes, at the second last and last, then I think he would have really challenged the winner. On ratings, the handicapper seems to think it was a very good run and he’s given him quite a lofty mark. We’re keen to get more experience into this horse, so it will be interesting to see how he goes on what should be slightly better ground. There are just the four runners in here, but they look four decent horses. It’s probably going to be hard to give the mare of Nicky Henderson’s the weight. He’s certainly got the ability, but I think it’s a hot race.

DEAFENING SILENCE – 12.40pm Cheltenham

He also comes here on the back of a nice run at Haydock in a graduation chase. We’re hopeful of a good performance, but I think this trip may be a little bit short of his best. This looks a good novice chase, with some highly rated horses taking him on, but we’re keen to get out and give him some more chasing experience. We’d be more hopeful than confident. There aren’t that many novice chases for these horses to run in, but one we’ve got in mind for him is the Grade 2 Hampton Court Novices’ Chase at Warwick in January.

VALGRAND – 1.15pm Cheltenham

He steps into handicap company here for the first time and has to shoulder top-weight in what looks quite a competitive race. I’m not sure he was on his A game last time at Cheltenham, as I think he could have run with a bit more zest than he did, but he certainly bumped into a good horse that day. This race will tell us a lot more about where we stand. He’ll enjoy the ground and he’s in good form.

BALLYGRIFINCOTTAGE – 1.50pm Cheltenham

We took him out of the race at Sandown last weekend when the ground got very testing. He feels in brilliant form at home, but he will have to be to win this as it’s a strong race and he hasn’t won for a long time.

SHAN BLUE – 2.25pm Cheltenham

This will be his first run in a veterans’ race. His reappearance at Bangor was a good one, I think he would have needed that and has since come on for it, so we’re hopeful of a good run. It’s obviously been a long time since his last victory but hopefully he hasn’t won his last race just yet.

DOYEN QUEST – 3.35pm Cheltenham

He was a good winner here last time and is a horse that just keeps on improving. The step up to three miles looks as though it has really suited him. He seems great in himself at home, and if he can bring the same sort of form as last time back to the track then we’d be very hopeful that he will take a bit of beating. He’s a horse that is going the right way.

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