In-form Skeltons aiming to end hurdles hoodoo with Ashtown Lad

3.15 Haydock
Betway Challenger Stayers Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle | 3m½f | 4yo+ | RTV/ITV4

Dan and Harry Skelton are going full tilt in their bid to land the jockey his first championship but Haydock's hurdles course has not been a happy hunting ground for the title-chasing pair.

Since the beginning of 2016, the Skelton brothers have had just two winners from 34 runners, a strike-rate of six per cent, in hurdles at the track and their last 26 representatives were all beaten.

They team up with Ashtown Lad, who looked a progressive staying hurdler when winning at Uttoxeter in November but has gone backwards. He beat only three home when sent off at 6-4 at Cheltenham in December and pulled up on his most recent start.

He stopped quickly on the first occasion and was found to have blood in his trachea last time, so evidently he has not been the easiest to train, but perhaps wind surgery will have done the trick.

Skelton was assistant trainer to Paul Nicholls when Sam Thomas was riding there and Thomas is another Nicholls disciple who is making headway as a trainer. Thomas has had a remarkable 24 winners from 82 runners this season and operates at a 29 per cent strike-rate.

The trainer runs recent Newbury runner-up Iwilldoit and has booked 7lb claimer Jack Foley for his first ride for the yard.

Regarding Ruth finished five and a half lengths clear of Iwilldoit when winning at Newbury last month and the pair had the race between them from start to finish. The 7lb pull in the weights and Foley’s allowance could be enough for Iwilldoit to reverse the places.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Dan Skelton, trainer of Ashtown Lad
He's had a wind op since his last run and I think it was probably just bugging him on his last two starts. He looks great at home and worked nicely on Friday morning. He's carrying top weight, which is a bit frustrating but I'm looking forward to getting him back out. I thought he was quite a progressive novice before Christmas.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Colonial Dreams
He ran a good race under a big weight at Newbury and I'm hoping he'll do the same again.

Sue Smith, trainer of Small Present
Everything should be there to suit him so hopefully he'll put in a good performance.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Supakalanistic
He's very versatile and has won four times over hurdles and once on the Flat, as well as landing a jumpers' bumper. He's running off a career-high mark so we’ll see if he can defy the handicapper.

Sam Thomas, trainer of Iwilldoit
I was pleased with his last run at Newbury. I made a bit of a bloomer running him in the Borders National at Kelso in December and it's taken a while for him to come back to himself. He’s in a better place now, and has come on for Newbury. I'm optimistic of a good run.

Jamie Snowden, trainer of Exod'ela
He's run some decent races this season. I think he's the sort of horse who runs better against better opposition. Three miles suits him down to the ground and he's nicely handicapped.

Oliver Sherwood, trainer of Republican
I like him. He probably should have been placed at Ascot last time but did a bit too much early on. It's a very competitive race, but the track should suit him and he goes there with a live each-way chance.
Reporting by Richard Birch

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