Grosvenorsport.com and leading National Hunt jockey Harry Skelton reviews his week in the saddle and looks ahead to his rides at Market Rasen and Stratford over the weekend.
We sent a good squad up to Wetherby on Wednesday where Beakstown was very green in the novice chase. He took me by surprise, but he’s a big, raw baby and there is lots of potential there.
We need to get some experience into him now. It’s a long season and he wasn’t fully wound up. Hopefully, there is plenty of improvement to come and what we really need is someone to go on at a good gallop next time.
I would take absolutely nothing away from the winner, Sam Spinner. He is rated 164 and was second in this year’s Stayers’ Hurdle, while our horse was only having the seventh run of his career. We’ll look for another novice chase now and then take it from there.
West Cork pleased us in the novice hurdle. He travelled like the winner but just took a bit of a blow coming to the last. I think the winner could be a very good horse, it was a smart performance to win like that giving us a stone.
We were really happy with our horse, though, and will continue to find more experience for him.
I got into the winners’ enclosure on Antunes which was great, but it was very unfortunate what happened to Jonjo [O’Neill Jr] missing out the first hurdle up the straight. He looked up and saw the dolled off hurdles after that and it was simply human error, he didn’t mean to do it.
He’s a good young rider and is riding for good people who will understand. Everyone will move on, it was just one of those things.
Antunes is progressing nicely. He’s a big, scopey type and he’ll stay over hurdles this season. I can see him continuing to improve over the next few months.
Market Rasen, Saturday
Velkera – 2:00
Velkera won an Irish point-to-point in April and has been going nicely at home. This is very much a starting point for her and I can see the run and experience bringing her on.
South Seas – 2:35
South Seas went to a very high level on the Flat in the early days, but his form has fallen off a cliff since then. He’s schooled nicely and done everything we’ve asked of him, but we just need to hope that a hurdle will relight the fuse.
We won’t know until he tries hurdling in a race, but if they do the trick and bring back his early flat form, he should go close.
Anytime Will Do – 3:10
Anytime Will Do is in really good form and missed Chepstow to come here for some better ground. He’s fit and well and we fully expect him to run a good race.
Ffos Las, Saturday
Mohaayed – 4:15
Mohaayed has been an absolute star for us and ran an encouraging race at Market Rasen last month. This looks red hot, though, and he has top-weight so it’s going to be very difficult for him.
Stratford, Saturday
Terrierman – 1:45
Terrierman makes his first start for us and won a point-to-point in Ireland earlier in the year. He’s done plenty of work, William Marshall takes 7lbs off and he should have a decent each-way chance.
Kempton, Sunday
Long House Sale – 3:20
The ground went too soft for Long House Sale in the Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen, so he has had a bit of a break since then. If he is back on song, he should run very well. The ground and track will both suit him.
We also run Aweeminit in the race and it’s a big step up in class for her so it won’t be easy. You never know, she might be able to pick up some black type.
Sofia’s Rock – 4:25
Sofia’s Rock has got a few pounds to find with the higher-rated ones like Grand Sancy, Silver Streak and Itchy Feet, but the track and ground will be fine and we’re looking forward to getting him started.
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