23/10/16 Straight From The Trainers Mouth

Dan Skelton

1.40 Aintree Robin Roe

I’m really excited about this horse and pleased that we can get started with him. I think the ground is going to be great up at Aintree, so it should be absolutely fine for him. We start him off in this maiden hurdle, although Paul has a nice horse in the race in Winningtry. This is always a decent race, but I do like Robin Roe a lot. He’s won a point to point and he’s won a bumper, so we are expecting a decent level of form from him. I’m just looking forward to getting started; he’s jumped well at home and done everything right, so now’s the time to see him on the track.

★★★★★

3.15 Aintree Born Survivor

Born Survivor gets a bit of weight which is good as the top weight runs. He was a really nice horse last year, although he wasn’t quite at his best when he ran in the Grade Two at Warwick after Christmas. I do think he is a really nice horse, especially for the future when he goes chasing, I just thought another year over hurdles wouldn’t do him any harm. He gets to start the season in a nice handicap round a nice track like Aintree which is ideal. I think he’ll build on this run, and really we are looking after him until we go chasing next year.

All the horses are right where want them bar the last couple of percent because we can’t get on the grass due to the lack of rain, that’s the honest truth. They are bang there and ready, but would just be that little bit better if we could get on the grass. But that’s the same for everyone’s horses, we’re all in the same boat.

★★★★☆

3.50 Aintree Three Musketeers

Everyone knows about Three Musketeers and how much I like him. The plan is to step him up to three miles soon but this race is a good starting point. We have a nice weight as Smad Place runs, I think the track Everyone knows about Three Musketeers and how much I like him. The plan is to step him up to three miles soon but this race is a good starting point. We have a nice weight as Smad Place runs, I think the track will suit him, and I hope that the ground is just on the soft side of good. I’m really happy with him; he’s an honest horse, he jumps nicely and tries hard. There’s no reason why he shouldn’t run really well off that kind of weight, fitness won’t be a barrier to him winning and he has the ability. That said I’m expecting him to improve when we step him up in trip as I know three miles is what he needs. The aim is to start in this race over two and a half miles, get the freshness out of him, and take it from there. will suit him, and I hope that the ground is just on the soft side of good. I’m really happy with him; he’s an honest horse, he jumps nicely and tries hard. There’s no reason why he shouldn’t run really well off that kind of weight, fitness won’t be a barrier to him winning and he has the ability. That said I’m expecting him to improve when we step him up in trip as I know three miles is what he needs. The aim is to start in this race over two and a half miles, get the freshness out of him, and take it from there.

★★★★★

Nigel Twiston Davies

 1.40 Aintree- Tintern Theatre

Makes his rules debut having joined us from the Irish point scene, where he had two outings, gaining a runners up slot on the latest in April. A promising sort, he's done well at home and goes straight over timber, rather than the bumper route. Ryan Hatch aboard.

★★★★☆

2.10 Aintree- Another Frontier

Is still a maiden after 6 outings but has shown ability and looks to have come on across the summer. Will enjoy this 3m + and looks to have solid each way credentials. Jamie Bargary aboard in this conditional jockeys race.

★★★☆☆

2.45 Aintree- Double Ross

Won the last of these veterans chases at Chepstow two weeks ago in nice style before a mistake at the last saw him holding on and just lasting home. He's up 3lbs for that but barring mistakes should go very close again. Ryan rides.

★★★★☆

3.15 Aintree - Templehills is seeking a hat trick having won his last two outings at Uttoxeter and Ludlow in good style. Up 4lbs in the ratings to 125, there looks plenty to come and with Jamie taking off 5lbs, the pair look to have a good chance of at least making the frame.

★★★☆☆

5.15 Aintree- Costante Via

Had joined us from the Dominic Ffrench Davis yard where she showed promise with two 3rd spots in both outings to date back in February and March. Has come on nicely and can run a big race here. Ryan rides.

★★★☆☆

David Pipe

2.10 Aintree Perspicace

 Perspicace runs in the 2.10 conditional jockey's handicap hurdle and David Noonan takes three pounds off.  It looks a competitive 14 runner race

★★☆☆☆

4.25 Aintree What A Moment

What a Moment makes his chasing debut in the 4.25 novice limited handicap chase.  He was second last time out over hurdles at Perth and Tom Scu rides.  He is an Irish point to point winner who should appreciate the larger obstacles.  Tom Scu rides.

★★★☆☆

Paul Nicholls

Aintree, 13:40 Winningtry
Did well to win his bumper on debut at Wincanton in the spring off a slow pace on soft ground. He is a horse I like, he jumps neatly at home but came in a little bit later this summer than most of the team. This is a good starting point for Winningtry who will improve for the experience.
★★★★☆
Aintree, 15:15 Great Try
Had a year off with a tendon injury and like Winningtry came back to me a little bit later than the rest of the team.
Great Try was last seen finishing a fine second to As De Mee in the EBF Final at Sandown but then missed last season with a tendon injury.
While he travels strongly in his races he is bound to come on for this run which will be his last over hurdles before he goes chasing.
★★★☆☆
Aintree, 15:50 Vibrato Valtat
Always goes well fresh and won the Haldon Gold Cup late last year on his return to action. He then found life a fair bit tougher in Graded company yet still ran some massive races in defeat.
While life isn't going to be any easier for Vibrato Valtat this season this trip of two-and-a-half miles should be ideal for this horse who is full of himself at home and will love the ground at Aintree.
I am very happy with Vibrato Valtat and he will definitely be tackling three miles at some stage this season.
★★★★☆
Wincanton, 13:50 Rouge Devils

Has to carry a penalty for his victory here last time when he won with much more in hand than it looked at the time as he is a lazy sort. This race has cut up, too, and conditions are right for Rouge Devils who won two point-to-points last season.
Tongue in cheek I have told his part owner Sir Alex Ferguson that this horse will be on the transfer list at the end of the season which made him laugh. So it is up to Rouge Devils to prove me wrong over the next few months!
★★★☆☆
Wincanton, 14:55 Boa Island
A dual point-to-point winner before joining us, Boa Island was never right last season. I wasn't happy with him at any stage but he seems in much better shape this time after we tinkered with his breathing.
Boa Island returns to action here off a mark of 108 which should give him every chance of success. He has always looked the type to make a chaser and I am hoping he can make up for lost time this winter.
★★★★★
Wincanton, 16:05 Bagad Bihoue
Has thrived this summer, winning four times in a row before his recent defeat at Chepstow when he didn't get the trip. Bagad Bihoue is running here on ground he enjoys before going off for a well deserved holiday.
The penalties he has earned for three victories over hurdles mean that he has to give lumps of weight all round so Jack Sherwood's 5lbs claim will come in handy.

★★★☆☆