'We've had this in mind for him all season' - key Scottish Champion Hurdle views

2.25 Ayr
Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle (A Limited Handicap) (Grade 2) | 2m | 4yo+ | RTV/ITV

Dan Skelton’s considerable firepower appears to be propelling his brother Harry to a first champion jockeys' title and the pair have another outstanding chance with Calico.

The five-year-old was good enough to compete in Group company on the Flat in Germany and has already transferred that smart form to hurdles in three outings since joining Skelton.

He has won two of his three starts over obstacles, but his best effort came in defeat when he finished three-quarters of a length behind Cape Gentleman in the Grade 2 Dovecote at Kempton in February.

A peak Racing Post Rating of 136 for that effort still leaves him with a bit to find, but he is the most unexposed runner and is open to improvement on going (good) that he handles.

Milkwood finished third behind Belfast Banter at Cheltenham and he appeared to appreciate the true pace and switch to better ground. Conditions will be in his favour again, but it’s hard to believe this ten-runner event will be as strongly run as the County Hurdle.

However, the seven-year-old coped with a small field when landing a six-runner event at Ffos Las in October and is usually consistent. He has finished in the first three eight times in 12 outings.

Anna Bunina was five places behind Milkwood in the County and, like many Irish trainers, John McConnell has a fantastic record with his runners in Britain this season.

McConnell has had three winners and two thirds from ten runners and all his wins came at Cheltenham. Two were ridden by Richard Johnson and his retirement means Brian Hughes will take the ride.

Hughes has ridden for McConnell only twice in the last five seasons without a winner, but it will be interesting to see if this becomes a more regular partnership in Johnson’s absence.

Paul Nicholls and Alan King have won this once each in the last ten years. Nicholls saddles Diego Du Charmil and Thyme White, while King is represented by last year’s Royal Ascot winner Scarlet Dragon, who would complete a rare double if he were to win this contest.

Verdana Blue, who won this in 2019, finished second at Royal Ascot last year, though, and ex-Flat performers Chesterfield and Cockney Sparrow are also on the recent roll of honour.

Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say:

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Diego Du Charmil and Thyme White
Diego Du Charmil is quite nicely in at the weights and should go close again, while I've thought all season this race would suit Thyme Hill. He wants better ground and a sharper track. On his Chepstow win in October I'd like to think he's got a good chance too.

Neil Mulholland, trainer of Milkwood
We've had this in mind for him all season. The better ground will suit him and he ran a great race at Cheltenham.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Calico
I'm really happy with him and this is his ideal race. I gave him a quick third run over hurdles to make sure he was qualified and he was great at Warwick, where he loved the ground and this type of track. He'll love a fast-run race and has good form coming into it.

Ian Hamilton, owner of Tommy's Oscar
He has a chance. He won comfortably last time and was unlucky in the Morebattle Hurdle. He should be suited by better ground.

John McConnell, trainer of Anna Bunina
She ran a cracker in the County Hurdle and has every chance given how close she was to Milkwood. She's better going left-handed so that's why we've decided to come to Ayr.

Alan King, trainer of Scarlet Dragon
He should show the benefit of his return to jumping at Huntingdon last month. However, though he's come on for the race, he looks as though he's probably in the grip of the handicapper and I imagine this may be his last run over hurdles before he reverts to the Flat.

Reporting by David Carr

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