Skeltons scoop Imperial with Langer Dan
LANGER Dan kicked off what could be an excellent few days for Dan and Harry Skelton when cruising to victory in the Paddy Power Imperial Cup at Sandown on Saturday, writes Simon Milham.
Once again Dan Skelton proved he is among the best at targeting the big prizes, while his brother Harry is putting up a stern challenge in his quest to be champion jockey.
With the likes of Roksana, Third Time Lucki, Shan Blue,
Nube Negra and Allmankind heading to Cheltenham next week, the Skeltons could have the week of their lives and now Langer Dan, pictured, is as low as 8-1 with Paddy Power for the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle – the closing event of this week’s Festival.
His supporters in this race had a brief moment of worry coming out of the back straight when Harry Skelton was short of room and got shuffled to the back of the pack, but in a matter of strides he was soon back on the bridle and breezed around the field to challenge Miss Heritage.
Langer Dan (5-1) breezed to victory by four lengths from Miss Heritage, with Mack The Man third.
Dan Skelton said: “I have got so much admiration for this little horse. He’s tiny, but he has a great attitude and he’s all heart. His chances of getting in the Martin Pipe are nil, but if that nil becomes something, he’ll run.”
Plumpton – (five-year record) Top Trainers (with runners): G L Moore 52-330 (15.8%), C Gordon 35-163 (21.5%), A Honeyball 16-65 (24.6%), Miss S West 13-80 (16.2%), J W Mullins 13-108 (12%), A King 12-43 (27.9%), N Mulholland 12-107 (11.2%).
Top Jockeys (with mounts): Tom Cannon 30-171 (17.5%), Joshua Moore 22-151 (14.6%), Marc Goldstein 16-146 (11%), Tom Scudamore 12-81 (14.8%), Page Fuller 8-75 (10.7%), Harry Reed 6-27 (22.2%), Niall Houlihan 6-54 (11.1%). Favourites: 184-483 (38.1%).
Stratford – (five-year record) Top Trainers (with runners): D Skelton 29-156 (18.6%), D McCain 15-63 (23.8%), N Twiston-Davies 15-79 (19%), T R George 14-71 (19.7%), O Murphy 14-99 (14.1%), P Nicholls 13-32 (40.6%), W Greatrex 12-44 (27.3%), P Bowen 12-68 (17.6%). Top Jockeys (with mounts): Richard Johnson 34-159 (21.4%), Harry Skelton 25-110 (22.7%), Brian Hughes 14-57 (24.6%), Adrian Heskin 13-49 (26.5%), Harry Bannister 13-56 (23.2%), Bryony Frost 10-51 (19.6%), David Bass 10-60 (16.7%), Paddy Brennan 10-85 (11.8%).
Favourites: 207-561 (36.9%).
Taunton – (five-year record) Top Trainers (with runners): P Nicholls 45-180 (25%), P Hobbs 22-136 (16.2%), H Fry 17-80 (21.2%), C Tizzard 16-127 (12.6%), J Scott 14-70 (20%), N Mulholland 13-100 (13%), D Pipe 12-133 (9%). Top Jockeys (with mounts): Harry Cobden 30-125 (24%), Sam Twiston-Davies 19-77
(24.7%), Aidan Coleman 9-57 (15.8%), James
Best 9-123 (7.3%), Rex Dingle 8-39 (20.5%), Alan Johns 7-63 (11.1%), Michael Nolan 7-71 (9.9%), David Noonan 7-125 (5.6%).
Favourites: 168-430 (39.1%). Wolverhampton – (five-year record) Top Trainers (with runners): P Evans 68-613 (11.1%), M Appleby 58-564 (10.3%), M Johnston 55-414 (13.3%), D Loughnane 52-403 (12.9%), J Gosden 50-179 (27.9%), A Carroll 49-463 (10.6%). Top Jockeys (with mounts): Luke Morris 1161006 (11.5%), Richard Kingscote 91-610 (14.9%), David Probert 70-651 (10.8%), Jack Mitchell 66-322 (20.5%), P J McDonald 53-393 (13.5%), Rossa Ryan 49-266 (18.4%), Cam Hardie 44-547 (8%). Favourites: 891-2754 (32.4%).
Cheek pieces – Plumpton: 2.17 Clondaw Robin, Invincible Cave, Rostello; 2.47 Mr Clarkson; 3.17 Big Time Frank, Burgess Dream; 3.47 Ruby Yeats, Sexy Lot; 4.25 Jumping Jack, Queen Among Kings. Stratford: 1.00 Shut The Box, Stage Summit; 1.30 Pillar Of Steel(*); 2.03 Accordingtogino, Commodore Barry, Orrisdale(*); 2.33 River Bray; 3.03 Bastien(*), Starweld(*). Taunton: 2.40 Darsi Rose; 3.40 Danny Whizzbang, Skipthecuddles; 4.10 Bretney(*), Great Tempo, Miss Gemstone, Pour Une Raison(*),
Puzzle Cache, Sign Of War, Uisce Ur; 4.40 Triple Chief; 5.10 Cymraeg Beauty(*). Wolverhampton: 4.20 Kylla Looks; 4.50 Divine Connection(*), Hunters Step; 5.20 Viola Park; 6.20 International Law, Jeddeyd; 7.50 Open Mystery(*); 8.20 Kinderfrau(*). (*) denotes horses wearing cheek pieces for the first time.
Tongue straps – Plumpton: 1.45 African Dance; 2.17 Lough Ryn, Larcadio, Kalarika;
3.17 Fizzlestix, Tractor Fred, Jimmy, West Lake, Invicta Lake; 4.25 Powerstown Park, Wise Garden, Lisronagh Stone, Ashley Hollow. Stratford: 12.30 Naizagai, Stepney Causeway, Letter At Dawn; 1.00 Darling Du Large; 1.30 Blazing Saddles,
Isthebaropen, Asharann, Watchman; 2.03 Commodore Barry, Ramonex; 2.33 River Bray, Glory And Fortune, Deniliquin, Twominutes Turkish, Fort De L’Ocean, Milrow, 3.03 Envoye Special, Gottagottagetaway, I’m Wiser Now, 3.33 Heeratsunset. Taunton: 2.10 Balinesker Beach, Pol Ma Cree, Tulin, Vulcan; 2.40 Windance, Russian Service, Champagne Vintage; 3.10 The Widdow Maker, Beltor, Copperless, Chez Hans; 3.40 Danny Whizzbang, White Moon; 4.10 Sign Of War, The Big Sting; 4.40 Shrewdoperator, Gouet Des Bruyeres, Royal Plaza, Triple Chief, Flight To Nowhere, Polo The Mumm; 5.10 Rubys Reward. Wolverhampton: 4.20 Kylla Looks; 4.50 Vitesse Du Son, Mrs Tiffen; 5.20 Velvet Vista, Don’t Jump George; 6.20 Must Be An Angel, Jeddeyd; 6.50 Alfredo, Mukha Magic; 7.20 You’re Cool.
Visored for the first time – Plumpton: 3.17 Jimmy; 4.25 Ballydoyle. Taunton: 2.40 Russian Service. Wolverhampton: 4.20 Dancing Rave; 7.20 Back From Dubai.
Blinkered for the first time – Plumpton: 3.17 West Lake, Oakley Hall.
Today’s longest traveller: Big Time Frank (3.17 Plumpton) – 331 miles.