Harry Skelton© Photo Healy Racing
Grey Dawning could be embarking on a Cheltenham Gold Cup campaign when he makes his seasonal debut in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase tomorrow at Haydock. The striking grey harbours plenty of potential for the Skelton team and takes on eight high-class rivals in Merseyside’s feature.
The man on board and Star Sports ambassador Harry Skelton looks ahead to his chances and the rest of the Skelton runners on a top-notch card:
GREY DAWNING - 3.05 Saturday, Grade 1 Betfair Chase, 3m. 1f. 125yds.
He had a really good season last year, answering every question we asked of him.
He was probably slightly over the top at Aintree after Cheltenham — it’s very hard to win at both big festivals in the spring — and he just looked a bit flat around Aintree having given his all at the Festival. He’s had plenty of time to recover from that after a nice summer break and we’ve done as much work as we ever have with him for his first run of the year. He looked fantastic at his recent racecourse gallop and we’re really looking forward to running him.
© Photo Healy Racing
We don’t underestimate the step up into open company here at Grade 1 level, it’s a huge one. We think this horse can do it though, as his pedigree says that he should be getting better with age and we’ve always trained him with that in mind, by not overrunning him to make him into the best horse he can be. We feel as though he’s ready for the big stage and we dream of him lining up in the Gold Cup, but this’ll answer a lot of questions for us. I wouldn’t swap him for anything else in the race, he’s fit and ready for the challenge.
COUNTRY MILE — 12:08 Haydock, Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) 1m. 7f. 144yds
We had to think outside of the box a little bit to get that first run in up at Ayr given the ground was very dry in a lot of places. He travelled strongly that day and got the job done nicely in the end. This’ll be a bigger task for him stepping into a Grade 2, but we feel as though he’ll take it in his stride. He’s a horse that is going the right way and two miles around Haydock won’t be a problem for him.
HOME FREE — 12:40 Haydock, Handicap Chase, 2m. 67yds.
He hasn’t done a lot wrong since going over fences and has been a winner of his last two. He won quite nicely at Ayr last time and handles the soft ground well so he shouldn’t mind the rain forecast before the weekend. I think he’s on the up and we hope the handicapper hasn’t caught up with him quite yet, despite having his say last time out by putting him up 10 pounds. He’ll handle conditions well and is thriving at the moment.
PUNTA DEL ESTE — 1:15 Haydock, Handicap Hurdle, 2m. 2f. 191yds.
He ran a good race on his comeback run at Carlisle when just being beaten by a length. He’s come on nicely since then and has won at Haydock before, so he ticks a lot of boxes. I’d like to think he’ll be competitive off this mark, and he’ll enjoy the conditions as he won’t mind any rain.
DEAFENING SILENCE — 1:50 Haydock, Graduation Chase, 2m. 5f. 127yds
This’ll be his chase debut, and we know it’s a big ask, but we’ve been somewhat limited to where we can run him. He was a non-runner down at Exeter because the ground was too quick so we’re having to just roll the dice a little bit here to get that first run into him. We think this two-miles-five-furlong trip on soft ground will suit him nicely and we’d be delighted if he won. To do that would require one hell of a performance first time out, but he’s certainly capable of that later down the line. He did well as a novice over hurdles and this looks a nice starting point for him now chasing. It is a tall order, but you’ve just got to run these horses when you get the opportunity.
DOYEN QUEST, CATCH HIM DERRY & GWENNIE MAY BOY — 2:30 Haydock, Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap), 3m. 58yds.
It’s a valuable race which is why we’re running three — we’re taking our chances where we can.
I’ll be aboard Doyen Quest who did it really well at the November Meeting at Cheltenham when winning over three miles for the first time and he seems in really good form at home, having come out of the race well. We’re keen to give this one a go but we’ll be keeping an eye on the ground because if it got really soft, we’d have to reconsider.
We also run Catch Him Derry who has been on the up and improving nicely. This is quite a step up but I feel as though this horse has got it in the locker to keep on improving. Three miles with some cut in the ground is right up his street and should suit him nicely. We think he’s got a big chance.
Gwennie May Boy has done nothing wrong since joining us, all he’s done is win! He finished off with a big win at Aintree to round off last season and we’ve since done plenty of work with him at home. The handicapper has had his say a little bit, but we still don’t think he’s got too tight a grip. He should have a good chance.
LE MILOS — 3:40 Haydock, Handicap Chase, 3m. 1f. 125yds.
He’s got to shoulder top weight here, but the handicapper is giving him a chance by dropping him down the weights. He needed his comeback run at Cheltenham and hopefully he’s stepped forward a bit in terms of fitness. If he can return to the form of his Coral Gold Cup run, then he’ll hold every chance off this mark. He hasn’t quite been seeing out his races like we’d hope, but we feel as though there are a few reasons as to why, whether it be the trip or fitness. We’re happy with how he looks at home and now with a run under his belt, he should be able to run a competitive race.
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