'We've trained him for this weekend'

Exciting mare Cherie D’Am has pleased Dan Skelton in the build-up to this Grade 2 and he believes she will give a very good account against some talented geldings.

The seven-year-old impressed with both her fluent jumping and the manner in which she hit the line when slamming Telepathique by seven lengths in a Listed mares’ novice chase over 2m4f at Warwick last month.

Telepathique had landed her previous two starts over fences by an aggregate of more than 15 lengths and it looks a strong piece of form.

Cherie D'Am: takes on the boys at Ffos LasCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

“She was very good last time against the girls at Warwick in similar conditions on soft ground,” Skelton said. “Obviously, she's taking on some of the better boys here getting weight from everyone, although she does have a Class 1 penalty.”

He added: “She's been going well at home and I think she'll be one of the players. It's another step up in grade for her; it's not a formality by any stretch.”

Cherie d’Am appears to have bags of stamina in addition to pace and it would be no surprise to see her stepped back up to 3m after this. The likely testing ground at Ffos Las should bring that stamina in to play.

Handstands, rerouted to Ffos Las after the cancellation of Warwick’s 3m Hampton Novices’ Chase, brings an impressive record of four wins from six starts to the table.

The son of Getaway landed the Grade 2 Esher Novices’ Chase at Sandown last time by three and a half lengths from Resplendent Grey and, if all goes well, he will return to the Surrey track later this month for the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase.

The Sandown Grade 1 is run over a similar trip to the Towton and trainer Ben Pauling believes Handstands has plenty of speed in addition to stamina.

“He’s in very good order,” Pauling said. “We’ve trained him for this weekend, but the plan was to go three miles in the Hampton at Warwick.

“I don’t think the shorter trip will affect him. He’s a talented horse with a lot of speed. The idea is to get more experience into him and, if he comes out of the race fresh and well, we’ll aim him at the Scilly Isles at Sandown in three weeks’ time.”

What they say

Henry Daly, trainer of Hillcrest
I hope he runs a nice race. Obviously, he was disappointing when he pulled up at Cheltenham last time, but the ground might not have suited him. In addition, the race was a bit aggressively run and he’s still learning his trade over fences. He had jumped very well at Haydock prior to that, apart from a disagreement with the last down the back straight. If he jumps as well as he can, he should run well. Ffos Las is Ffos Las in terms of ground. It can get very deep there, but I’m not worried about it with this horse.

Sam Thomas, trainer of Range
It looks a nice place to get another run into him. He lost his confidence at Kempton last time when they went very fast. He is wrong at the weights in this Grade 2, but we want to give him more experience.

A J O’Neill, joint-trainer of Saint Davy
He’s in good form at home. The plan had been to go to Warwick over a longer trip, but we’ll take our chance in this Grade 2. I think the ground will suit him.

Smart View on the Towton

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