DAN SKELTON NUBE NEGRA
ALLMANKIND Sporting Life Arkle Trophy
Tuesday (1.55)
THIRD in last year’s Triumph Hurdle and, like Arkle hopot Shishkin, is unbeaten in three attempts over fences.
Followed a 13-length margin at Warwick with an all-the-way two-and-a-half-length win from the Paul Nicholls-trained Hitman in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown in December, before defying Grade 1 penalty back at Warwick in the Kingmaker Novices’ Chase, beating Jonjo O’Neill’s Sky Pirate by 14 lengths.
SKELTON SAYS: It was a great run at Sandown. He’s a very exuberant horse — he puts his heart on his sleeve — but he is a bit more rideable now.
Warwick was good. He didn’t jump as
Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
Wednesday (3.05)
A 20-1 outsider for the Grade 2 Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton over Christmas — two from four over fences in his novice season — but sprang a surprise with a three-and-a-half-length success over absent dual Champion Chase victor Altior (gave 6lb).
SKELTON SAYS: I thought Nube Negra was very authoritative the whole way round at Kempton.
I don’t think there was a moment’s doubt there — he jumped beautifully, travelled beautifully, picked up turning in, and left them going to the last.
He took me by surprise at Kempton — I thought he was a very good horse, but I thought he needed the very best ground to see it.
He actually showed it on soft ground, but he will be a better horse on better ground. I don’t have any exuberantly as he has done in the past, but I put that solely down to the ground being as deep as it was. It doesn’t concern me in the slightest. He’s bottomless.
He charged through the line at Warwick in terrible ground, and he doesn’t know when to stop trying.
I think in an ordinary year, he’d be a shortpriced favourite for an Arkle.
I don’t think we’ll ever be favourite against Shishkin, but that doesn’t bother me.
Nicky Henderson’s animal is very, very good, but I believe in my horse. NEWSBOY’S VERDICT: Now the chief threat to Shishkin after Energumene was pulled out of the Arkle last Friday, the former tearaway is growing up — and will test the favourite’s mettle.
ODDS: 4-1 negatives about the track — he’s a strong-travelling, slickjumping horse — and hopefully he can travel well and have as much fuel as possible turning to two out.
I’m very happy with him at home. Maybe he’s the young horse stepping forward.
NEWSBOY’S VERDICT:
No suggestion of fluke about the Kempton win, but he received weight that day and needs to take another step forward as he moves into open Grade 1 company for the very first time.
ODDS: 15-2
FERGAL O’BRIEN has been one of jump racing’s biggest success stories of the winter. In his first full season at his purposebuilt yard high in the Cotswold hills, O’Brien has already sailed past his personal-best winners’ tally but there is one slot on his CV that is unfilled — he has yet to notch his first Cheltenham Festival winner. Here he explains to STEVE JONES why his sleep isn’t interrupted by the wait, how he’s at home at his new base and what fuels his success
Q
How has this season gone so far?
A
It couldn’t have gone any better. We passed our seasonal best just before Christmas and to roll on past 80 winners has been fantastic.
We’ve won three Grade 2 races which shows the quality is going the right way as well.
We went to Southwell on
July 1, the first day jump racing resumed, and we won with our first runner when
Ultimate Getaway won the bumper. It’s just kept rocking and rolling from there.
Q
How big a part has the move to Ravenswell Farm played in the success?
A
Without being too deep and meaningful, from the first moment we started building I couldn’t wait to get here. It’s got a great feel to it, it’s got great energy about it.
The facilities are great and it’s an easy place for the horses to train. A bad day here is better than most days anywhere else. It definitely feels like home.
Q
You’re still looking for your first Cheltenham Festival winner. Does that trouble you?
A
Not at all. You’ve only got to look at the people of a similar age to me who have had Cheltenham Festival winners and aren’t training now.
We definitely want Festival winners. I love Cheltenham week and I couldn’t think of anything nicer than going there with a favourite so you’ve got those real nerves. We’ve had plenty of horses run well there. The one that hurts a little bit is Barney
Dwan. I can still hear Davy Russell moaning about Presenting Percy’s handicap mark ahead of beating us in the Pertemps Final.
Q
Who’s the pick of your Festival team?
A
Alaphilippe (below) won the Grade 2 at Haydock very well. He’ll go to the Albert
Bartlett and
Warwick winner Imperial
Alcazar will go to the
Pertemps Final.
I’m also looking forward to running
Dolcita. She was a good second for Willie Mullins in the mares’ novices’ hurdle at last year’s Festival and she ran well for us at Warwick. I think she’ll improve a ton.
Q
What do you do to relax outside racing?
A
I love watching rugby. I used to love the Friday nights at Gloucester. It’s even better when they play Munster, as Munster usually win, and that’s where I’m from. I love all sports, really. I like watching golf even though I’m rubbish at it.
We sponsored the Cheltenham Cricket Festival a couple of summers ago. That was all down to my business partner Chris
Coley and we got some owners out of it. I remember thinking ‘do I really want to go down there and have to meet people?’
I’d do anything now to sit watching the cricket while eating an ice cream. It seems a million miles away. You’ve got a large following on social media. What part does it play in your yard? A
I’ve been able to embrace it because one of my owners, ‘doctor Simon’ is behind the fantastic photos and videos, and he comes up with all the banter. It’s great people can feel involved in the yard. We try to make it fun. I love it when owners come to the yard. It’s definitely a big part of it, especially in these times.
Q Q
The Great Fergal O’Brien Bake Off sees visitors arrive at the yard with an array of cakes. How do the staff stay light enough to be able to ride racehorses?
A
I eat them myself – I really do take one for the team! I love cake, Victoria sponge is my favourite, if anyone is going to send any!