Coral Ambassador Dan Skelton discusses his Friday runners and gives an update on Bridget Andrews
Bridget Andrews is a lot better after her fall on Upepito last Sunday. She’s at home now. We’ll look after her and she’s got a scan in a couple of weeks. There are no breaks or anything like that just a bit of abdominal damage and they want to make sure that everything’s 100%. We don’t really know how long she’ll be off. The scan in two weeks will determine that. If the scan’s fine then she’s back in business, if it’s not then it’ll be a little bit longer. But she doesn’t feel too bad which is the main thing.
In his return race I was probably asking a bit much of him. It wasn’t quite a lacklustre run but he was dropped in, passed a couple late on, and that was that. He didn’t really get involved so it was a bit of an odd run. I think he’ll run better on this his second start. The trip will be fine and it’s a slightly less competitive grade, although it’s no less a competitive race. The ground will be perfect for him. So he should be competitive.
3.25 Cheltenham – Adrakhan and Benissimo
Adrakhan won last time out in a good time. He’s gone up in the handicap but that happens when you win. I don’t know how he’s going to fare against the other horses in the race who might be really well handicapped. But in my opinion he should be competitive.
Benissimo looks quite a big price. He travels really well in his races and jumps a bit left. The ground should be ideal and they’ve dropped him 1lb for his run the other day. I wasn’t disappointed with that run but it was just a bit of an ordinary run. A couple of ours needed the run at the time and if that was the case with him then he could be over priced. I don’t see him having a problem staying this trip up the hill. Whether he’s good enough is another question but I don’t see any stamina issues.
Harry had already committed to ride Adrakhan before we decided to run Benissimo as well in the race, so it wasn’t a case that he chose one over the other. And I do feel that both horses should give their running.
It’s this winning pointer’s first run for me. He’s won in this ground, and I’m taking him up to Hexham thinking he’s got a winning chance. Everyone knows that because we wouldn’t be going that far otherwise.
I just think she needed her last run. I was a little bit disappointed but she definitely needed the run. She was the best of these in bumpers. Elusive Theatre is a winning pointer and she’s obviously going to stay well. But ours has got a run under her belt recently and should go well.
All the best,
Dan
