HARRY SKELTON: Cheltenham Saturday

On Saturday at Cheltenham, we’ve got some exciting names back in action, with Kabral Du Mathan the headline act as he takes on last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner, Old Park Star, in the Arkle Trial, writes HARRY SKELTON.

---

SATURDAY

KABRAL DU MATHAN – 1:45pm Cheltenham

We kick Saturday off with Kabral Du Mathan in the Grade 2 Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase, and it’s a race we’re all really looking forward to. He made an excellent start to his chasing career at Perth, getting a run under his belt and winning as he liked. His jumping was particularly pleasing that day, and he came out of the race in good order.

This is obviously a much stiffer test, and he’ll need to step up again against some quality opposition, including last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner, Old Park Star. However, we wouldn’t be bringing him here if we didn’t think he was capable of holding his own, and I’m confident he’s up to the challenge.

The ground should be fine for him, so there are no concerns on that front. We’re excited to see how he gets on and hopefully he can take another step forward over fences.

BLUEKING D’OROUX, MADARA & RISKINTHEGROUND – 2:20pm Cheltenham

Of our three runners, I’ll be partnering Blueking d’Oroux, who is relatively new to us but showed some pretty decent form as a novice last season. He was a highly rated hurdler and is a classy horse, so there’s plenty to like about him. He runs off a mark of 148, and hopefully there’s still a bit of room for improvement in that rating.

I just get the feeling there could be more to come from him, and the cheekpieces go on, which he has worn before. He has some good-ground form, and there are plenty of positives heading into the race. It certainly wasn’t an easy decision, as I can only ride one, but I eventually sided with him.

Madara was brilliant in the Plate last season and, although he’s now 12lb higher in the weights, he’s still a horse we have plenty of time for. He made a pleasing return over hurdles at Carlisle a fortnight ago, and that run should put him spot on for this. I think he’s got a good chance, too, and it’s genuinely difficult to split the two. It was a really tough decision to make.

We also run Riskintheground, who certainly shouldn’t be overlooked. He ran a very good race to finish third in the Charlie Hall Chase and should appreciate the ground here. Harry Atkins takes a valuable 5lb off his back, and he’s a jockey who has done well at the track. I think he’s definitely an each-way player and he could run a big race.

ACE OF SPADES – 2:55pm Cheltenham

He runs in the three-mile handicap hurdle, having made his comeback at Cheltenham a few weeks ago. He ran an okay race that day, and we’re hoping he’ll be able to take a step forward from that first outing.
However, if I’m being honest, he’s got a tough task ahead of him. He has to shoulder top weight of 12 stone, and I think he could do with a little relief from the handicapper. It’s a competitive race and he might be up against it, but hopefully we see some improvement from his return run.

MONEYGARROW – 3:30pm Cheltenham

He ran a really promising race in last season’s Albert Bartlett, travelling very nicely for a long way before just failing to see out the three miles. We’ve decided to drop him back to two miles five furlongs here, which we hope will suit him better.

It’s a competitive race, but he’s been going well at home and we’re very happy with how he’s been shaping up. He hasn’t had a run yet this season, but he’s done plenty of work and is ready to get going. If he’s improved again since last season, as we hope he has, I think he should go there with every chance.

SOLERETTA & NORTHERN SINGER – 4:00pm Cheltenham

We run two in the bumper, and I’ll be partnering Soleretta, a filly who has shown plenty of promise. She was desperately unlucky not to win her point-to-point, coming down at the last when she looked to be travelling strongly and set to go on to win quite comfortably. We’ve been really happy with her at home, she’s been doing everything right and, if she can translate that form to the track, I think she’ll have a solid chance.

We also run Northern Singer, who has already shown what she can do on the track, having won a bumper at Chepstow. She showed a really good attitude that day and stays very well, which are two big positives to take into this.

It’s difficult to split the pair, and we’re looking forward to seeing how they both get on.

---

STAR PROMOTIONS