'We really fancied him' - Le Milos proves Skelton's confidence to be well placed

Saturday: Coral Gold Cup, Newbury

Dan Skelton lifted the Coral Gold Cup high above his head as if it was the World Cup after Le Milos came out on top in a drama-filled running of Newbury's famous handicap chase.

There was already a tingle in the air after Constitution Hill's emphatic victory in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle but there was no overshadowing the race run as the Hennessy for 60 years, which had a taste of everything.

For the second Saturday running, the Skelton brothers played the leading roles as Le Milos followed up Protektorat's stunning Betfair Chase win seven days earlier to give the stable another victory in one of the season's signature jump races.

"Sometimes you can get too confident," said the winning trainer, who had correctly predicted a bold show from Protektorat at Haydock and never tried to hide his high hopes for Le Milos.

"Me and my assistant Tom [Messenger] said to each other before the start, 'Is it silly to fancy a horse this much in this type of race?' But he'd stepped forward so much from his last run at Bangor and we really fancied him for it."

Ultimately his confidence was well placed but there was high drama along the way.

It started before the runners had even jumped a fence, as it took three attempts by the starter to get the field away to a jagged start.

At the first, Adrian Heskin was unseated from the well-fancied Threeunderthrufive, who continued to race among the leaders, causing several moments of panic along the way.

Le Milos, so impressive on his first start for Skelton on heavy ground at Bangor 17 days earlier and strongly backed into 9-2 favouritism to follow up, slotted snugly into a midfield position before he was pulled out to challenge in the home straight.

Forging to the lead three out, he was committed for home early by Harry Skelton but when he was joined at the last by Remastered, the lion's share of £150,000 for first was all to play for.

To make matters even more interesting, the riderless Threeunderthrufive came across the front pair at the elbow around the water jump but, while it helped neither of the front duo, Le Milos never flinched and stayed on in gritty fashion to deny Remastered by half a length.

Dan Skelton is all smiles after Le Milos's successCredit: Edward Whitaker

"There was definitely some apprehension over the ground," admitted the winning trainer. "Bangor was very soft but I felt he'd really stepped forward and I'm glad they put the water on the track last night. That probably helped us.

"From the back of the last, I thought Remastered had got us and I'm surprised he hasn't because we were out there to be gunned down for a while. Le Milos was so brave for Harry at the last. If he'd put one more stride in we were beat and you have a different winner.

"It was just a fabulous race and, after last weekend, I can't really believe our lucky stars at the moment."

The winning rider paid tribute to Le Milos's staying power, although there was a significant sting in the tail as he was suspended for seven days and fined £2,900 for using his whip above the permitted level after jumping the second-last fence.

"He was good for me as he was on the limit the whole way but I knew he would keep finding and stay galloping well," he said. "He’s really tough and kept galloping all the way to the line. These races live long in the memory of a lot of people and it's just fantastic."

Another race that lives long in the memory is the Randox Grand National and the winning trainer said "100 per cent" that is the race for Le Milos.

That was music to the ears of his younger brother, who added: "I'd love to ride him at Aintree. He'd be brilliant over those fences but we'll enjoy today."

There was enthusiastic celebration among the Jolly Good Partnership and their entourage, with everyone getting a hold of the impressive Coral Gold Cup trophy.

Yet it was impossible not to spare a thought for Brocade Racing, owners of Remastered, who fell when travelling strongly four out in this race last season and narrowly missed out on this occasion.

"It might have been different with softer ground," said part-owner Garth Broom. "I think he was in better form than last year and it was the ground that was against us. It was some day when Native River won this race for us and we nearly did it again, but he still ran some race and we're very proud."

Remastered's trainer, David Pipe, rattled the proverbial woodwork as he also saddled Gericault Roque to finish third, with Lucinda Russell's Cheltenham Festival winner Corach Rambler back in fourth.

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