'If he gets to the start sweet enough he'll run a big race' - key trainer quotes

Wednesday: 2.05 Wetherby
Watch Racing TV On Sky 426 Handicap Hurdle | 2m3½f | 4yo+ | RTV

Dan and Harry Skelton have dominated the jumps scene at Wetherby this winter. Dan has saddled more than double the amount of winners (13) at the track than any other trainer this campaign and Harry has a remarkable 46 per cent strike-rate (12-26) at the venue in that time.

They could easily have had more, too. Who could forget Shan Blue departing at the third-last in the Charlie Hall with the race at his mercy, and then there was Unexpected Party, who appeared set to land a major gamble over Christmas but was caught by The Brimming Water.

Those are just two examples, and the brothers Skelton appear to have targeted another big day at the Yorkshire venue. They team up with four horses and one of their best chances comes in this race in the shape of Shannon Bridge, who is well treated judged on the pick of his form.

Shannon Bridge won a hot Class 2 handicap hurdle at Ascot last February and, almost 12 months on, races from a mark 4lb lower than for that victory.

He ran his best race since at this track last time when third of eight in a course-and-distance handicap hurdle behind Haafapiece and Ballyandy. The latter franked the form when winning easily at Fakenham last week and Shannon Bridge could give that race another boost here.

Up For Parol and Findthetime are the up-and-comers in the field. It looks like Up For Parol will run here in preference to his entry in the race that Shannon Bridge won at Ascot a year ago. He finished sixth in the Lanzarote at Kempton last time and is the pick of that pair.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Jonjo O’Neill, trainer of Arrivederci
He’d been off for a while before his run at Taunton last month and he’s come on for that outing at home. We’ll see how much more rain they get, but he handles soft.

Jamie Snowden, trainer of Up For Parol
Nothing went his way in the Lanzarote Hurdle last time, including a false start, and he still managed to be beaten just eight lengths. He won well previous to that at Haydock and won’t mind any further rain, so there are plenty of positives.

Oliver Signy, trainer of No Word Of A Lie
He’s on a competitive mark which I hope he can improve on and he’s back from a break following a run on heavy at Uttoxeter. I hope they don’t get a lot more rain and I expect him to run well in a tight race.

Oliver Greenall, trainer of Homme Public
He ran poorly at Haydock over Christmas but our horses weren’t right then and he’s in better shape now. Hopefully they don’t get a lot more rain, but if they do I have him in a race at Sandown on Thursday.

Nicky Richards, trainer of Findthetime
I hope they don’t get too much more rain as he’s at the right end of the handicap and going the right way. He can be a bit of a handful going to the start, but if he gets there sweet enough he’ll run a big race.
Reporting by David Milnes

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