Zarib can keep Skelton on a roll
Dan skelton announced himself on national Hunt racing’s main stage two years ago with victory in The Ladbroke and the Warwickshire trainer can repeat the achievement today with
ZARIB (ascot, 3.35).
In-form Skelton is double-handed in the prestigious hurdle as he searches for another high- profile winner courtesy of the selection or supposed second-string Hurricane Hollow.
The latter will have his supporters, too, as he shaped with plenty of promise in a warm Chepstow handicap last time when not seeming to last out over two-and-a-half miles.
However, Zarib is narrowly preferred to upset strong favourites Winner Massagot and Jolly’s Cracked It, both of whom boast plenty of course form and will be tough to beat.
Skelton’s charge warmed up for today’s examination with an encouraging performance in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton behind Irving where, after travelling strongly, he looked to blow up through lack of fitness before finding a second wind.
That wasn’t the first time the four-year-old has threatened to win a nice prize. He moved powerfully in the Fred Winter Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival before his effort petered out after the last hurdle, and there is a slight concern a flatter track may be his preferred terrain.
I don’t expect to see him challenging until late in proceedings today, however, and his strong-travelling style should be well-suited to a race often run at a generous gallop.
Winner Massagot has always been held in high esteem and was raised 12lb for a highly impressive reappear-
ance where the market felt the easy ground may prove against him.
He answered those questions decisively a month ago and rates the biggest danger to the selection, while there should be better to come from Some Plan who was reportedly badly in need of his first run back at Sandown.
THISTLECRACK (Ascot, nap, 2.25) faces the stiffest test of his embryonic career, but he has met nearly every challenge with an emphatic answer to date and could continue his rapid ascent up the hurdling ladder with victory in the JLT Long Walk Hurdle. YANWORTH was cut to 10/1 in places for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle after maintaining his unbeaten record over hurdles at Ascot yesterday.
Alan King’s charge, sent off the 1/3 favourite, barely came off the bridle in the hands of Barry Geraghty to beat the talented Charbel by two-and-three-quarter lengths in the Kennel Gate Novices’ Hurdle.