HARRY SKELTON: Weekly Debrief

It’s always a sickener when you go so close in such a big race, but we were absolutely delighted with Grey Dawning in the Betfair Chase on Saturday, writes HARRY SKELTON.

He jumped and travelled unbelievably well, possibly a bit too well on that ground. It was pretty tough out there and if it had been earlier on the card, it would have helped our cause, but we weren’t going to shy out of it. He gave me a great feel, he was just a little too exuberant.

The stars aligned for Royale Pagaille on the day. He loves it round Haydock on deep ground, he’s a specialist there, and we were just outstayed in very testing conditions. What we do know is that our horse has improved again as it’s never easy going into open company. We did a lot of work with him, but he’s now been beaten on his reappearance for the past three seasons, so there should be a bit more to come.

Between the second last and the last, I felt him starting to tire. You have to keep the momentum up going to the last but unfortunately he bunny hopped it. Halfway up the run-in, it was evident he was tired and that was inevitable first time up on that ground. I was holding onto him for as long as I could, but at some point, there’s nothing left to hold onto. You just have to try to keep going and the winner did that better than us.

He was absolutely fine on Sunday morning. He’s a very tough horse but he obviously had a hard race, so you won’t see him for a while now. I imagine it will be one run before the Gold Cup, most likely the Cotswold or Denman Chase. He’s now stepped up into Grade 1 level in open company and the Gold Cup is still the dream. It’s now or never this season and he deserves to have a crack at it.

Rest of Haydock

We’re not sure what happened with Catch Him Derry in the stayers’ handicap hurdle. I was happy with where I was and how I was going but the engine just fell out in the home straight. Nothing’s come to light so far and something mustn’t have been quite right.

Country Mile ran really well in the novices’ hurdle. I thought with a good jump over the last two that I would’ve got close to the winner, but he made a mistake two out and then dived at the last. He’s a strong travelling horse and he’s obviously got an engine.

We were very pleased with Deafening Silence in the graduation chase, his first start over fences. We pitched him in at the deep end against some decent rivals and it was a really promising run. His season will be aimed around the Hampton Novices’ Chase at Warwick in January, a race we won with Grey Dawning this year.

John Durkan Chase

I thought it was a great race at Punchestown on Sunday and you’d have to be impressed with what both Fact To File and Spillane’s Tower did. Galopin Des Champs ran very well over a trip short of his best. He looks like more of a stayer now, as you’d expect as he gets older, and that’s what you need in a Gold Cup. Look, it’s never going to be easy in the Gold Cup, it’s the pinnacle of our sport and we would be delighted if we’re there with Grey Dawning in March, taking on these top-class horses.

The week ahead

Let It Rain is a horse we really like and she could go to Wetherby on Wednesday. She needed her first run of the year at Chepstow and she’s come on plenty since then. Hopefully, she can get her head in front soon. The long-term plan is the Mares’ Novice at the Festival.

Looking ahead to the Coral Gold Cup on Saturday, Galia Des Liteaux is our most likely runner. She did a nice piece of work on Sunday morning and she’s come on for her run at Carlisle. I think she ticks a lot of boxes in this race. She stays, she’s had a run and the ground should be soft enough. I’d say she’ll have a strong each-way chance.