'Remarkable' Allmankind makes all to land Old Roan Chase for the Skeltons

Dan Skelton hailed Allmankind as "remarkable" after the former two-mile tearaway emulated Kauto Star and Monet's Garden by carrying top weight to victory in the Old Roan Chase.

On his first start out of novice chase company, Allmankind looked like an old hand over two and a half miles as he jumped accurately and travelled powerfully in his usual front-running role under Harry Skelton.

Given his free-going nature, there were a few raised eyebrows when Allmankind was stepped up in trip after suffering his only defeat over fences when fourth of five in the Arkle, but he won at Ayr and did so again here by holding off the late challenge of Itchy Feet by a length.

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In the past Dan Skelton has described Allmankind as "all hot air and exuberance", and he has taken great satisfaction from successfully reinventing the five-year-old, who is owned by the Gredley family.

"Being a tearaway at the start of his life made him," he said. "Over time they settle but also you've got to have a bit of intelligence to work out the best way to race, and his experience has taught him that.

"I'm very proud of him. To win a handicap on that mark out of novice company at a tender age is pretty good. He races a bit differently now, but he did that up at Ayr towards the end of last season.

"He's just remarkable and there aren't many you can trust to run over hurdles two weeks earlier and make a seamless transition back to fences. He makes training horses easy and enjoyable because he's always on your side."

Allmankind won four of his six starts last season, including the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown, but is set to have a less demanding campaign.

Although Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook cut Allmankind to 10-1 (from 20) for the Ryanair and to 20-1 (from 33) for the Champion Chase, Skelton identified a return trip to Aintree in the spring as his main target.

Allmankind (right): holds off Itchy Feet (centre) and Midnight ShadowCredit: John Grossick Racing

He said: "You'll see a lot less of him. I think because he's doing it out of novices and proving it, you've got to be a bit respectful and not empty the well. I want to prolong his career as long as I can and I think next year he'll be racing over three miles.

"I'll talk to the owners and see what they want to do, but ultimately you've got to come back for the Melling Chase [on April 2]. He might not run this side of Christmas.

"We kind of said last season that Cheltenham wasn't his track and I know we were taking on Shishkin and there's the speed we were trying to go in the Arkle. That was what we had to do on that day, but things have changed since and he now acts more like a stayer."

Itchy Feet, a Grade 1 winner as a novice, went one place better than last year in first-time cheekpieces, staying on past Midnight Shadow after the last.

"He ran a cracker and, on the whole, jumped a lot better than he has done," said trainer Olly Murphy. "I think we're going to go up in trip before too long. He's a Grade 1 winner and is going to win a nice race one day."

Sue Smith was delighted with Midnight Shadow as the eight-year-old made an encouraging return on his first start since February.

"He's run a cracker and we're very pleased," the trainer said. "This time of the year he's maybe just a race short and it's putting that final bit of polish on them."

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