“Honeysuckle shows, and many more before her, that 7lb can almost be for free, so we’ve always done well with fillies and always had it in our minds that we should do. Perhaps we’re a little softer on them between races?
“You’ve got to be hard on them to get them fit, you’ve got to be hard on any horse to get them fit, but perhaps in between we’re not quite as hard on them and that suits them.”
The Skelton regime certainly seems to be suiting weekend winners Galia Des Liteaux (might need a bog to go to Cheltenham) and West Balboa (in the Mares’ Hurdle but could be one for the Coral Cup), while Kateira, a clear-cut winner at Huntingdon last Friday, looks a novice with a bright future, too.
If Skelton is to have his best-ever Festival in March, you feel one of those mares will have to reward his policy in the most spectacular way.
Up against the might of Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott, Skelton would probably say one winner and there is some truth in that.
Picking off another handicap like he did with those trio of County Hurdle winners is an achievement in itself considering the firepower of the big Irish trainers, but inside Skelton will be hunting for more.
He’s taken a leaf out of his old mentor Paul Nicholls’ playbook by dominating the British racing scene with those big Saturday winners, but he’s ambitious enough to want Festival success like those golden days at Ditcheat when he was assistant – commonly known as the Kauto Star era.
Yet the current gulf in class between the best of the British and the Irish monsters is illustrated by a mere glance at the antepost markets. Protektorat, at 9/1 for the Gold Cup, is Skelton’s shortest-priced runner at the meeting as things stand, although Langer Dan (we will avenge that defeat!) is giving him a run for his money in the Martin Pipe.
Ballygrifincottage looks a good novice chaser, Grey Dawning would have a squeak in an Albert Bartlett, Galia Des Liteaux might be of interest if the rain came in force – and a wet spring would seem to benefit Skelton’s string no end.
It’s in the handicaps, though, where punters will respect his name the most. Le Milos, Ashtown Lad, Midnight River, West Balboa, Third Time Lucki and his County Hurdle-selected will be ringed by many when the weights are released.
A Festival double or better is the next step for Skelton. Judging by the limelight factor from the season so far, he will have his best ever chance of accomplishing such an ambition.
January 11 - Who is Willie's Sporting Life Arkle number one?
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