Harry Skelton Debrief: Elle Est Belle is getting stronger all the time

Sunday 28 November

We didn’t have any luck on Sunday with our runners at Leicester but I did see Honeysuckle’s win in the Hatton’s Grace when I got home. She was incredibly impressive. She’s just a brilliant mare and it was great to see her get such a warm welcome from the crowd when she came back in. If she turns up at Cheltenham in that kind of form in March, you just can’t see her being beaten. 

Saturday 27 November

We have a very good mare of our own in Elle Est Belle who was fantastic in the mares’ novices’ hurdle. She travelled really well through the race and came home strongly. It was a big step up on her first run and we thought that would be the case. She’s getting stronger all the time, she’s a lovely mare and we’re looking forward to the season with her. Two and a half miles wouldn’t be a problem at some point and she definitely appreciated the cut in the ground at Newbury.

Ch’tibello had been off the track for nearly a year and we knew he would come on for the run. It was a pleasing effort first time up and he’s still got plenty of talent even though he’s nearly 11. It would be great if he could win another race at some point this season.

The Ladbrokes Trophy was a great spectacle like it always is. Cloudy Glen got the job done well, it’s not an easy race to win first time up. I’m sure everyone was delighted for the Hemmings family. Trevor has put so much into racing and to win this famous race for a fourth time is an incredible achievement. Remastered was going very well when he fell and Fiddlerontheroof also ran a cracker.  

Things couldn’t have been any closer in the Fighting Fifth with Epatante and Not So Sleepy dead-heating. It was an exciting race but they’d both have to improve to beat Honeysuckle. 

Friday 26 November 

Boombawn ran another good race at Newbury on Friday in the maiden hurdle. He’s learning all the time and stayed on nicely. Jonbon was very impressive and he’s clearly got a big engine. As you could see, no-one wanted to make it which meant it was a funny start to the race but I’d say the first three home are all nice horses. 

Thursday 25 November

It was nice to pick up a winner at Lingfield with Seven No Trumps. He was making his first start over fences in the novices’ handicap chase and he got the job done really well. He jumped and travelled well, it was a really good effort on his first start since March. Hopefully he continue to progress, we always thought of him as a chaser. 

Tuesday 23 November

Greatest Star won his maiden hurdle at Southwell where a good jump at the last sealed it. He’d been a touch keen but it was a good run and I’m sure he will continue to improve. 

This week

Last year’s Tingle Creek day will live long in the memory for me after a Grade 1 double with Allmankind and Politologue. Hopefully we’ll have runners in the same races again as Third Time Lucki is set to go for the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase. He’s made a great start to his chasing career with two wins at Cheltenham and the ground at Sandown should be absolutely fine for him. He loves his fences, so I’m sure he’ll enjoy it round Sandown where those Railway fences come up thick and fast.

We were delighted with Nube Negra in the Shloer Chase and as long as everything is okay with him he’ll run in the Tingle C.

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