HARRY SKELTON: Uttoxeter & Kempton Saturday

Once again, the horses ran well on Friday, with Grey Dawning running a good race in the Gold Cup but ultimately coming up a bit short, writes HARRY SKELTON.

It was brilliant to ride two Festival winners aboard Madara and Supremely West. Those moments are very special for the whole team and everyone involved. The team got all our runners to the Festival in fantastic shape and it is testament to all their hard work.

Cheltenham may be over, but the show rolls on to Uttoxeter and Kempton on Saturday and we have plenty of runners across both meetings.

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UTTOXETER

SATURDAY

WEST TO THE BRIDGE – 1:50pm Uttoxeter

The softer the ground the better his chance. He was very tough in victory last time at Chepstow and as a veteran, he certainly knows how to win. Hopefully, he has a solid chance.

A PAI DE NOM, JUST GOLDEN & HIDDEN HISTORY – 2:25pm Uttoxeter

Unfortunately, A Pai De Nom didn’t get into Cheltenham, but he looks to have a really good chance here. He’s been improving all year, and the trip and ground will be no problem for him. I think he’s still on the up and hopefully still ahead of the handicapper.

Hidden History won at this meeting last year but is on a bit of a comeback mission now. Things haven’t quite gone right for him over fences but back over hurdles here, hopefully he has an each-way chance.

Just Golden is an improving novice and this step up to three miles should suit him.

DEAFENING SILENCE – 3:00pm Uttoxeter

He goes to the Midlands National, where there is some fantastic prize money on offer. He’s somewhat frustrating – he got his head in front over the third last in the Haydock Grand National Trial, but he just didn’t sustain his effort, and I think he holds back a bit for himself.

He did keep on at the finish though and has been running well in these sorts of races, so he should stay here. Whether he has a bit too much weight on his back remains to be seen, but if he puts his best foot forward, he has a chance.

KYKOROCK – 3:35pm Uttoxeter

He’s taking a big step up in trip, but he’s a winner of a point-to-point and I think he will get it. I just wouldn’t want the ground to go really soft as that coupled with the step up in trip might be a bit of a negative.

He’ll be ridden quietly to get the trip and, if he does, I think he’s still handicapped to go well.

KADASTRAL & HOLEHEARTEDLY – 4:10pm Uttoxeter

Kadastral is a horse we really like. He chased home Sober Glory over two miles last time at Newbury, when not really enjoying the very testing ground. Stepping up to two-and-a-half miles around here is a good move, I think, and he looks to have a nice chance.

Holeheartedly hasn’t shown much to date and might be better off in handicaps once he’s been assessed.

JASMIN DE COTTE – 4:45pm Uttoxeter

He’s been disappointing to be honest and hasn’t shown a great deal of late. He’ll have to improve upon what he’s shown to date.

SASSIPANTS – 5:20pm Uttoxeter

She’s been staying on well in her two races so far, so this bit more of a test of stamina on softer ground should help her. Hereford last time was a bit sharp for her but she still stayed on well at the finish.

She’s had a bit of a break since then and has been going well at home, so hopefully she can run a nice race here.

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KEMPTON

SATURDAY

BURNING EMBERS & JOLLIE DAME – 1:33pm Kempton

Both have run okay in bumpers and hopefully they will improve for going over hurdles, but they have to step up on what they’ve shown so far.

CHUGGY – 2:08pm Kempton

You can put a line through his last run at Aintree as nothing really went to plan there. Lots of the fences were taken out, which didn’t suit him as jumping is his asset.

Before that he was a progressive horse and he’s had a bit of a break since that run. I’m not sure if the handicapper has caught up with him now, but he is in good form and should be competitive.

ROYAL INFANTRY & TRANQUIL SEA – 2:40pm Kempton

Royal Infantry ran well at Kempton last time and just bumped into one on the day. That was a nice run back over hurdles and hopefully it has sharpened him up a bit.

If he runs as he did last time, he should be bang there, but I’m not sure how far ahead of the handicapper he is off a mark of 140.

Tranquil Sea has been struggling on soft ground through the winter and hopefully a bit better ground will help his chances.

ETALON & SHAKEYATAILFEATHER – 3:18pm Kempton

There’s plenty of prize money on offer here, so we’re having a go with Etalon. He’s been running well all winter but he’s paying the price for that after being put up a fair amount in the handicap when he won at Ascot in December.

He should run well but I think he might struggle to defy this mark.

Shakeyatailfeather has got a light weight on her back. She ran okay at Kempton last time and has come on since then, so she could sneak a place here.

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