HARRY SKELTON: “It’s all about keeping that momentum going…”

We’re looking to carry this great form on as the team continues in a really good rhythm, with a high strike rate and plenty of winners on the board. It’s all about keeping that momentum going now as we continue to chase our prize-money targets, writes HARRY SKELTON.

We head to Sandown for another afternoon of valuable racing, including Thistle Ask lining up in the Celebration Chase.

⭐ HORSE RACING MARKETS ⭐

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SANDOWN

SATURDAY

MADE U BLUSH & QUEEN MAEVE – 1:13pm Sandown

Made U Blush has improved with every run this season and it was great to see her get her head in front in that Listed race at Musselburgh. That was a really pleasing result, and she’s been trained with this race in mind ever since. She comes here fresh, she’s in good form, and I think the ground will suit her well. On what we’ve seen so far, she has a strong chance.

We also run a filly called Queen Maeve. She’ll need to step up on what she’s shown to date, but the experience she’s gained should stand her in good stead. She carries a nice light weight, and we’re hopeful she can outrun her odds.

KADASTRAL & DUTCH CORNER – 1:45pm Sandown

In the Novices’ Final we run a couple, and I’ll be riding Kadastral. He’s a horse we’ve always thought plenty of, and that hasn’t changed. You can forgive his last run, which came on quite soft ground, he just isn’t strong enough for those conditions yet. He’s a big horse who is still developing, and he looks a chaser in the making.

He was beaten by Sober Glory on testing ground at Newbury, which again didn’t play to his strengths, so that effort is easy enough to excuse as well. He’s a really nice horse with plenty of ability, but I don’t think we’ll see the best of him until he goes over fences and matures. That said, the ground here should suit him much better and he looks fairly handicapped, so I’d hope for a good run.

We also run Dutch Corner in the race. He showed much more last time when a change of tactics allowed him to get into a better rhythm and roll along. He can be a bit wayward at times, but there’s no doubt that he has ability. He seems to enjoy better ground and, having been fairly lightly raced this winter, he should come here in good shape. There’s no reason that he shouldn’t run well.

DOYEN QUEST & ETALON – 2:20pm Sandown

In the Oaksey, I ride Doyen Quest. I think he’s better than what he showed at Aintree, where dropping him in over that trip probably didn’t help. I’m not convinced he truly sees out three miles. He’ll need to step up on what he’s done so far this season, but it’s worth rolling the dice in a race like this with good prize-money on offer. If we can pick something up, we’ll be very pleased.

The same applies to Etalon really. He’s feeling the effects of the handicapper now after winning well at Ascot. He was put up quite a bit for that and a mark of 144 is proving tough. We’ll take our chance here; it’ll be a great day for the owner, and if we can come away with some prize money, that would be a bonus.

THISTLE ASK – 2:55pm Sandown

He’s had a fantastic season and this has very much been the plan for him. Everything about the setup should suit, a right-handed track, good ground, and he comes here fresh and well.

His run behind Jonbon last time was a huge effort, where he was just touched off in what was a proper race. To turn the tables, he’ll need to find a little bit more, but there are reasons to think he might. He arrives with fresher legs than most and better ground could just help give us that edge. We’ll need it, because Jonbon sets a very high standard and will be hard to beat. That said, whichever way it unfolds, he’s had a tremendous year, and it would be great to round it off on a high here.

KABRAL DU MATHAN – 4:02pm Sandown

Kabral Du Mathan came out of Cheltenham in good shape and this race has looked a nice fit for him for a while. Conditions should play to his strengths and he arrives in good form. On paper, it looks a good opportunity and hopefully he can prove very competitive.

PALAMON – 4:40pm Sandown

Palamon goes in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap. We’re turning him out again fairly quickly and the drop back to two miles at Aintree last time probably didn’t suit him.

Prior to that he was a good winner at Bangor, and he still seems in great form at home. He carries a nice racing weight and ticks plenty of boxes for this, so I’d expect him to run very well.

LISTENTOYOURHEART – 5:15pm Sandown

Listentoyourheart runs in the closing handicap hurdle. She was a good winner at Windsor earlier in the season, but the handicapper has reacted and she’s found things a bit tougher since.

She’ll appreciate the ground and a stiff track will suit, but she does look high enough in the weights at the moment. These types can struggle once they creep up the ratings, so we’ll see how she gets on, a bit of help from the handicapper in time wouldn’t go amiss.

⭐ HORSE RACING MARKETS ⭐

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