HARRY SKELTON: Weekend Debrief

It was all going on up at Wetherby in the Junior ‘National Hunt’ Hurdle with a loose horse bringing down three of the six runners at the second flight. Global Eclipse got an awful fright from the other horse running across him. It was a real mess, but thankfully everyone was fine, writes HARRY SKELTON.

I must say I’m not sure there’s a place for these junior hurdles in our calendar. I think they work in France because their programme is very different to ours in that it’s all about three and four-year-olds there. Ultimately a lot of owner-breeders in France sell their horses to England and Ireland, that’s their policy. We don’t have that here, our programme is for horses from four years and up, so that would be why I question if these races really fit in here.

Crazy abuse at Wetherby

When we came back into the winners’ enclosure after the junior hurdle there was one punter who was clearly aggravated about the whole thing and started shouting abuse. He clearly thought he’d give his five-pence worth, but it was absolutely crazy.

Unfortunately, these types of incidents happen when there’s betting involved, people get upset and angry and give out about how horses should be ridden and trained. It sometimes doesn’t quite work out how you’d want it. I think the Clerk of the Course, Jonjo Sanderson, handled it very well on the day.

Alastair Down: the best at what he did

It was awfully sad news about Alastair Down. He was the best at what he did. It was fitting that the press room at Cheltenham was named after him at the Showcase Meeting, but then for him to be gone only a week later was a terrible shock for everyone in racing.

He was one of those people who had an unbelievable way with words and his writing was second to none. I grew up watching Channel 4 Racing and the people and characters they had on there made it extra special. Listening to Alastair talk about a race or things that had happened in racing, his words drew you in and made it seem like events were taking place right before your eyes. It’s very sad to lose such a great character within racing. I’m sure he’ll be missed by a lot of people.

Wetherby, Friday

🏇 MIDNIGHT RIVER

We were happy with his comeback run. I thought he ran well over a trip that is probably short of his best now. He went well for a long way, but he had a good blow from two out and just got left behind from there. We’ll go up in trip now; he has got an entry in the Coral Trophy, whether we go there it remains to be seen, but it was a satisfying return to the track.

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Wetherby, Saturday

🏇 TAKE NO CHANCES

It was a nice surprise to land the Listed Mares’ Hurdle with Take No Chances and I’m delighted for her owner Garry Wilson. Going into the race it looked as though Luccia would take an awful lot of beating, but obviously on the day things didn’t go her way. We were really happy with our mare as they went a real strong pace and she looked to stay on strongly from the back of the third last. Now that she’s got her head in front in a Listed contest we can chase some decent prize money around the country in some better races.

🏇 KATEIRA

I felt that she was the winner all the way round, but she just made a mistake at the second last which cost her all chance. That stopped her in her tracks and unfortunately that’s the way things go. It was disappointing and frustrating to get beaten as she felt in such good form. She’s absolutely fine after the race and we will probably go to Kempton next with her. We might enter her in a few of the better three-mile hurdle races, as I think she’ll stay that far now.

Carlisle, Sunday

🏇 PUNTA DEL ESTE

He gave a lot of weight away in the handicap hurdle and ran a really good race on his return to action.

🏇 GALIA DES LITEAUX

It was frustrating to get beaten in the Listed Mares’ Chase, but I think when you look at it, two-and-a-half miles on good-to-soft ground was always going to be on the sharp side. She jumped and travelled great but got a bit outpaced from two out. It was a good start back, especially after running in the Grand National, and I feel like there’s plenty to come from her. We’ve given her an entry in the Coral Trophy and then might look further down the line to the Welsh National and those sorts of races. Hopefully, she’ll have a productive year.

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