HARRY SKELTON: Saturday Preview

There were some nice horses running at Chepstow last week, as well as at Ffos Las and Perth this week, and I thought they all ran really well, writes HARRY SKELTON.

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Chepstow

I was very happy with Divine Diva at Chepstow. We felt she would come on plenty for the run, so it was pleasing to see her perform well and win. Old Coast Road also ran a good race in the bumper and is certainly one to keep an eye on. He will probably go hurdling now, as he is a five-year-old.

Northern Singer was game to win the fillies’ bumper on Friday. She looks as though she stays well and has a great attitude, which are both positive attributes.

Our debutant Whistling Dave won impressively, quickening from the back of the last hurdle to the line in a manner that was very taking. Cooltobecareless also got off the mark over hurdles, quickening up smartly, while Hitintheheadlines did well to beat Paul Nicholls’ Stick To The Board at the first attempt.

Overall, the horses ran really well, and hopefully they can build on those performances and go on to better things.

Ffos Las

At Ffos Las, Sinnatra was very impressive. He handled the soft ground with ease, jumped really well and was never out of first gear, which was pleasing to see. I think he can be particularly effective on genuinely soft ground.

Captain Teague was back to winning ways in the Listed contest. He relaxed really well, jumped well and seemed to enjoy the softer conditions, which I think are quite important to him. When he won the Challow, the ground was quite testing that day, so he has shown before that he can handle those conditions. He won pretty convincingly, and hopefully he will gain plenty of confidence from that performance.

Il Est Français was having his first run for us and just had a good blow after the third-last fence. However, it was important that we gave him every chance to complete the race, as he had pulled up on his previous three starts. We were keen for him to settle well early and give himself every opportunity to finish.

He has come out of the race really well, so hopefully his career is back on track. Given how things had been going, it was important to see him complete the race and finish properly, so it was pleasing to see him do that.

Perth

At Perth on Thursday, it was great to see the meeting take place. A few racecourses have put on extra fixtures where the soft ground has provided opportunities for us to get our horses out and running. Credit to everyone involved in organising these additional meetings, as they have been very helpful.

It was good to get Kabral Du Mathan out, as it was a suitable race for him, and he absolutely pinged round there. Further down the line, he will face stronger opposition, but I think it is impossible not to be impressed by that performance. He jumped impeccably, showed plenty of exuberance and I could not be happier with him.

⭐ HORSE RACING MARKETS ⭐

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SATURDAY

TRIGG ? – 1:05pm Newton Abbot

Trigg made a good start to his career, but I think he was probably in need of a break when he ran at Perth last time. He is better than that performance suggested and has been in good form at home, so hopefully he can show what he is capable of. He does have to give a penalty away to one of Jane Williams’ horses, who looks a decent prospect, but I’m hopeful Trigg can be competitive and won’t be far away.

MISTERDOC ? – 1:42pm Newton Abbot

Misterdoc goes in a handicap hurdle, which can be quite difficult for four-year-olds without an allowance. However, he won well at Perth last time and has had a nice break since then, so he should be in good shape for this. The track should suit him, and given the way he won last time, I fully expect him to run well again.

PLAYFUL FOX ? – 2:17pm Newton Abbot

Playful Fox has been running throughout the summer and ran an okay race on his first start over fences. I think the handicapper probably has him high enough at the moment, but if he has improved from his last run, I’m sure he won’t be far away. He will enjoy the ground, although he is still relatively inexperienced over fences. I think the handicapper has him where he needs to be, but hopefully he can put in another solid performance.

BEORMA ? – 2:52pm Newton Abbot

Things did not quite go to plan at Stratford last time. She was running over two miles after a bit of a break, and it all happened a little quickly for her. She made a bad mistake at the ditch down the back very early in the race, and that effectively ended her chances. We have given her a nice freshen-up since then, and she seems in really good form. If you took that run at Stratford out of the equation, she would be coming into this race full of confidence, so she just needs to put that below-par performance behind her. She has schooled well since, and the return to hurdles should help her. Hopefully, she can get back on track and show what she is capable of.

COUNTRY MILE ? – 3:37pm Newton Abbot

He goes in the intermediate chase having got the job done nicely over fences at Uttoxeter on his first start over the larger obstacles. It is a small field here, and he steps up to two-and-a-half miles, but I don’t think the extra distance will be a problem. Quebecois looks a real stayer, so he will provide a good test, but we have the benefit of a run over fences under our belts now. Hopefully, Country Mile can build on his first effort and put up a good challenge.

⭐ HORSE RACING MARKETS ⭐

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