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Firstly a brief mention, we strongly believe that Dan Skelton is going to have a FANTASTIC season and has lots of really nicely handicapped horses this season!

Amirite (Rated 143 Chase)

Amirite finished 4th on his return at Cheltenham in October, 5th last season in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown in December & 5th in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in April. He clearly has problems and is tricky to keep fit. He did manage 2 runs in July at Kilbeggan and Galway. A good 2nd at Kilbeggan was followed by a disappointing run at Galway but once again demonstrated that the horse needs at LEAST 3m and I think he’s got a feature handicap in him over  3 1/2 mile particularly on soft ground. We have to remember he went off 11/2 favourite for the Irish National in 2023 but pulled up in the race won by subsequent Grand National winner I Am Maximus. Currently rated 143, he is likely to be aimed at the big staying handicap chases this year and now 8 turning 9, I think this year could be the year we see him in the Grand National. That said the Grand National is now looking like a Grade 1 race over 4m2f and think they shouldn’t put all their eggs in one basket with Amirite and he should be trying to win races along the way. The Becher Chase, Grand National Trial (at Punchestown) and then either the Irish or Grand National would be 3 races they could take in this season. I would be confident of big runs in all of these.

Authorised Speed (Rated 134 Hurdles, 132 Chase)

Authorised Speed is only rated 134 over hurdles and 132 over fences and I think he’s got more ability than this. His 5th in the Champion Bumper in 2022 was followed by 2 easy wins over hurdles at Lingfield and Sandown before going off 5/4 favourite for the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle where he ran no race before bouncing back at Sandown and then running in another Grade 1 at Aintree when finishing 8th of 14 and was still going well at the 3rd last before fading late on. Last season nothing seemed to work , falling on Chase on debut, finishing 3rd at Plumpton but still connections ran him in the Arkle where again he fell, this time at the 2nd. He dropped back to hurdles at Sandown in April and ran ok for 4th. He then went back over fences and finished 5th in a Beginners Chase (was actually quite a strong Beginners Chase). I really hope connections revert back to hurdles and also back to 2m. His form over 2m reads 22145151FF. His 2 falls came in the Arkle as mentioned an in a Handicap Chase at Ascot when falling 2 out when going best of all in a race featuring Persian Time (won off 4lb higher mark), Homme Public (won nto off same mark) & Lallygag. With a bit of luck and back over 2m, I think Authorised Speed can finally show his true potential this season.

Bad (Rated 123 Hurdles)

Bad started off last season running 3 great races at Ascot (twice) and Newbury finishing 3rd, 2nd & 3rd off marks off 122, 120 & 120. He had Wind Surgery in January before returning in February at Ascot and finishing another good 2nd (beaten a head) before 2 poor runs at Sandown. As such he’s dropped from a mark of 126 back to 123 and it may just be that he doesn’t run well at Sandown. Still only 5, Bad can certainly still have more to come and it would be no surprise to see him back at Ascot and Newbury again for these races whilst connections may think about going over fences. I think when things really click he’s a 130 horse so his handicap mark of 123 is definitely workable.

Bonttay (Rated 123 Hurdles)

Bonttay only had 3 runs last season and started off winning at Hereford beating Puffin Bay by a neck before running at Cheltenham in a competitive Mares Handicap Hurdle featuring Nurse Susan. Sent off 7/4 favourite she came there travelling really well before unseating 2 out. I’m convinced she would have won that day even beating the very well handicapped Nurse Susan and returning off the same mark will be very eyecatching. After this effort she did go to Ludlow in February and ran really flat with the jockey reporting she was never travelling. This was not the true Bonttay and I’m sure she will bounce back this season. I think she might start off this season in the race at Cheltenham where she unseated to gain compensation before going on to bigger and better things including being aimed at the Coral Cup.

Corbetts Cross (Rated 166 Chase)

Corbetts Cross is arguably the highest rated horse in our list but I think there’s even more to come and think he could be the JP hope this year for the Grand National. I’m confident he would have won the Albert Bartlett in 2023 when running out and he re-paid that faith when winning at Cheltenham this year in the National Hunt Challenge Cup over 3m6f. He won by a whopping 17 lengths that day from Embassy Gardens before dropping in trip for the Bowl at Aintree over 3m1f. He finished a good 3rd behind Gerri Colombe and Ahoy Senor but that made his record over 3m-3m2f now read 1R2F3 with his only victory coming in a handicap hurdle off a mark of 130. When completing over 3m-3m2f he’s already been beaten by Grangeclare West, Ahoy Senor and Gerri Colombe and with the likes of Fastorslow, Galopin Des Champs & Fact To File & Inothewayurthinkin (last 2 are same owners), it would seem foolish to aim Corbetts Cross at the Gold Cup. Surely his jumping and proven stamina would lead connections to aim him at the Grand National.

Crebilly (Rated 143 Chase)

Crebilly started the season being sent off the 3/1 favourite in a handicap chase featuring Ginny’s Destiny when falling 2 out. After finishing 4th on his next start at Cheltenham, he beat Tahmuras and Trelawne in a Novice Chase at Exeter. He subsequently ran a great race at the Cheltenham Festival in the 2 1/2 mile chase as a Novice finishing 2nd behind Shakem Up’arry when not jumping well at all. Given just a 3lb rise for that, he stepped up in trip at Aintree but disappointed and you can imagine he’ll be aimed at returning to Cheltenham for the Plate again. However the Paddy Power Chase & December Gold Cup at Cheltenham could well be where we see him before hand. If he wins, great, if he gets beat then they’ll be hoping the handicapper drops him in the handicap for a return for the Plate off a similar mark of 140 (last years mark). Still lightly raced and unexposed over fences, I think he’ll pick up at least one of these feature handicaps this season.

Doddiethegreat (Rated 132 Hurdles)

Doddiethegreat wasn’t beat far at Cheltenham in December behind Go Dante (unlucky last time out off a 9lb higher mark) and surely bumped into one there. A subsequent 4th in the Betfair Hurdle behind 3 well handicapped horses in Iberico Lord, L’eau Du Sud & Go Dante, he looked like he was going to go to Cheltenham with a huge chance but the form of the Nicky Henderson yard was woeful (many of his runners were withdrawn) and he subsequently disappointed finishing 12th of 21. Sent to Ayr on his next start he was sent off the 7/4 favourite but jockey reported he never travelled and he ran flat finishing 7th of 14. His first 3 runs of the season were very good and suggested there was a lot more to come and I’m sure he’ll be back this season and can kick on. It wouldn’t surprise me if he was sent over fences as he looked a big horse and would certainly be able to jump fences. If he does stay over hurdles, his mark is still 132 (same as when 4th in Betfair Hurdle) and I think he could win a nice pot off that mark.

Firefox (Rated 151 Hurdles)

One of only 2 in this list that I hope doesn’t end up anywhere near a handicap. Firefox HAS to go over fences this season. His form last season was very good including finishing 3rd at Cheltenham in the Supreme, 2nd at Aintree & 2nd at Punchestown. It’s a real cliché but I’m confident this was a ‘whatever he does over hurdles was a bonus’ horse. Over fences, I think he’s going to be very good and Gordon Elliott has a real challenger to Ballyburn this season when they meet over fences. He ran once over 2m4f in the Grade 1 Lawlors Hurdle and disappointed but his form over 2m is top class. He’s the one I prefer at this stage for the Arkle. 

Go Dante (Rated 134 Hurdles)

Go Dante who we mentioned earlier is also in our list as he was clearly eyecatching last time out at Aintree when finishing 5th after completely missing the start. Whilst the winner that day El Jefe also caught the eye coming from a mile back, Go Dante had been ridden to try and get involved and surely if he had jumped off on terms, he would have won. As such the handicapper leaving him on 134 is surely a mistake. His form before that suggested he was an improving horse and it’ll be interesting to see where they go with Go Dante. He looks to be a strong stayer over 2m and an end to end gallop over 2m should be perfect for him and returning for the Betfair Hurdle and ending up in the County Hurdle are surely the aims this season. 

Jeffery’s Cross (Rated 120 Chase)

Jeffery’s Cross is hopefully back and fit for Dan Skelton and looks to be off a low handicap mark. He was clearly aimed at the Staying Series Final back in 2023 when winning off a mark of just 112 and then really should have won next time out in a 2 runner race at Ludlow when coming there to win but making a mess of both the last 2. If he had won (I know it’s an if) he would have won his last 2 and thought of as very progressive but for a defeat in a 2 runner race he was very much overlooked going into last season. He didn’t make the track last season but I’m hearing he will this season and is one you must add to your RTR NagMe as I think off 120 he’s got lots in hand!

Jeroboam Machin

We’ve got one Graded horse hopefully going over fences in Firefox and this is our Future Grade 1 hurdler from the list. Jeroboam Machin is a machine in my opinion. A win on Rules debut he beat the sadly departed D B Cooper in good style. He then stepped up on this form when winning at Leopardstown in a Grade 2 beating You Oughta Know (had set a huge R1 Figure) & Redemption Day (since won 2 more bumpers including the Grade 1 at Punchestown). Jeroboam Machin is only 5 turning 6 and I think he’s got a huge future. He has won a 3m PTP so could certainly get further in time but I imagine he’ll start off over 2m and find out how good he is and only step up if required.

L’eau Du Sud (Rated 138 Hurdles)

L’eau Du Sud returned in the Greatwood Hurdle last year and pulled up but showed something was wrong that day with a great 2nd in the Betfair Hurdle (a race that the right horses came to the fore) and then finished 2nd in the County Hurdle where Harry thought he had everything covered but was quickened past by the hugely talented Absurde. L’eau Du Sud beat Pied Piper (13123 at Cheltenham) and subsequent Ebor winner Magical Zoe comfortably. He did disappoint next time out at Ayr when only 5th in the Scottish Champion Hurdle (only beat 1 1/2 lengths in total). I’m sure off 138 L’eau Du Sud could be a force over hurdles again this year and be a future Langer Dan (ending up in Graded races) however it’s very possible that he could also be sent over fences with the Grand Annual being a target. I think he’s been targeting this race for the last couple of years with a win last year with Unexpected Party and Third Time Lucki finishing 4th when sent off just 8/1 in 2023. L’eau Du Sud has more class than both of these.

Letsbeclearaboutit (Rated 150 Chase)

I really like Letsbeclearaboutit….over 2 1/2 mile…and in a handicap and think he’s going to be one for the feature races in November and December at Cheltenham. I’m just hoping his trainer gets it right this year unlike last year with his placement of Stumptown (ruining his handicap mark in a race worth just £26k to the winner). Letsbeclearaboutit won a Beginners Chase at Gowran Park and a Grade 3 at Cork before stepping up to Grade 1 company at Fairyhouse and found subsequent Grand National winner I Am Maximus & Found a Fifty (1221 in Grade 1’s since) too good. Connections were happy enough dropping him into handicap company next time out when finishing 3rd over 2m1f and showing this was too short for him. He then went up to 3m and was well beaten before returning to the right trip at Cheltenham but instead of taking advantage of his handicap mark, he ran in the Grade 1 and finished 8th of 11. It COULD however have been the plan to keep his handicap mark nicely around the 150 mark for the Paddy Power Gold Cup & December Gold Cup. If he turns up, I’ll definitely be on!

Lord Snootie (Rated 127 Hurdles)

Lord Snootie ran 2 good races and 2 poor races in 2024. His 2 good runs came at Haydock & Aintree when arguably being beaten by well handicapped horses. 2nd at Haydock to Cuthbert Dibble (finished 3rd in the Pertemps Final off 6lb / 11lb higher mark as Finn didn’t ride and claim 5) & Gwennie May Boy (3 for 3 for Dan Skelton and really impressively). I think West Balboa was well handicapped herself back in 3rd so for Lord Snootie to beat her, I think shows Lord Snootie himself is well handicapped. Rated 127, that wouldn’t have got Lord Snootie in the Pertemps Final last year and I’m hoping that’s the target this year. If so, they will need to go up in the handicap and I think Lord Snootie can win a race on his journey to the Cheltenham Festival. The race he finished 6th in last year would be my idea of his target as he arguably ran well despite not appearing in great form (until the turn of the new year). That race in itself was worth £70k to the winner!

Monbeg Genius (Rated 145 Chase)

Monbeg Genius ran a shocker on his return last season having finished 3rd on his previous in a race that featured a subsequent Grade 1 winner and Grand National winner. It was clear however that this poor run at Ascot was not his true running and he bounced back when finishing 3rd at Newbury in the Coral Gold Cup behind Datsalrightgino and Mahler Mission. Now we had highlighted Datsalrightgino for the Plate at the 2023 Festival where he was backed into 5/1 favourite and ran a shocker. If he handled the step up in trip, he was definitely well handicapped and he loved the step up in trip whilst the runner Mahler Mission was one of our Horses To Follow last season and his whole season was geared around the Grand National but he unseated at the Chair. Essentially we are the saying 2 very well handicapped horses beat Monbeg Genius last year and it’ll need something special to beat him this year if he returns for the race this season. Unfortunately Datsalrightgino is no longer with us after falling next time out. He was given an 11lb rise whilst Mahler Mission is still 4lb higher. Monbeg Genius is 2lb lower and has to be considered. He clearly hated the ground in the Ultima back at Cheltenham but I expect him to bounce back this season when encountering better ground. 

Nurse Susan (Rated 135 Hurdles, 125 Chase)

Nurse Susan is really lightly raced for a 7 year old having had just 7 runs with 4 wins to her name to date. The last coming at Lingfield over nearly 3m at Lingfield however I think there’s still loads more to come. Her 2 runs behind Love Envoi (145 rated) arguably suggest her 135 mark over hurdles is still workable whilst her 125 mark over fences surely proves to be lenient this season. After finishing 4th in the Mares Novice Hurdle in 2022, she wasn’t seen for 613 days when she returned at Exeter is a Listed Chase and was sent off 3/1 joint favourite. She clearly needed the run and wasn’t quite enough for the 2m1f trip. She returned to hurdles in December and won by a comfortable 1/2 length. She then stepped up to 3m and was sent off 6/4 and just got the better of Ramo after the last with pair pulling clear of Gowel Road (went on to finish 6th in Pertemps Final). I think she can be a 140+ horse over both hurdles and fences and as such the marks of 125 & 135 look very nice & I’m sure Dan Skelton will be carefully planning her campaign to make the most of these marks rather than wasting them and winning ‘nothing’ races. She may need her first run back (will be looking at how much her return is worth)

Ocastle Des Mottes (Rated 127 Hurdles)

Ocastle Des Mottes came over from France for Willie Mullins and started off going for the Betfair Hurdle where he went off 7/2 favourite and ran ok for 8th and I think may have simply needed the run. He was then stepped up in trip at Cheltenham for the Martin Pipe and again was well fancied going off 7/1 and travelled really nicely for most of the race and came into the straight going really well and didn’t quite get home in a race that is going to work out really well. Sticking to the 2 1/2 mile trip he wasn’t at his best on his next 2 starts at Aintree & Punchestown in feature handicaps. He’s been sent off 7/2, 7/1, 5/1 & 8/1 for feature handicap hurdles and due to not winning (running well the last twice), he’s now only rated 127 which is 6lb lower than his Betfair Hurdle run. I think he should be dropped back in trip to 2m for a couple of runs in handicaps as he may need his first run back again but I’m sure his mark is very workable and expect him to go close in one of these feature events this year with that season under his belt.  

Pembroke (Rated 140 Chase)

Pembroke simply hasn’t fulfilled his potential……yet. He was sent off 9/2 favourite for the County Hurdle in 2023 (although I’m convinced he needs 2 1/2 mile). He’s only had 3 tries at 2 1/2 mile finishing 2nd in a Grade Hurdle, finished alone out of 4 at Aintree & then finishing 3rd (well beaten) at Kempton in a Grade 2. With this season under his belt over fences, I think he’ll be stepped up in trip over fences to his optimum 2 1/2 mile trip at a track that really uses his stamina (Kempton does not). I’m hoping he’s a 2 year plan for the Plate and this is his year for the feature handicaps over 2 1/2 mile and just hope he doesn’t keep bumping into Letsbeclearaboutit. 

Shan Blue (Rated 143 Chase)

It hasn’t really gone right since falling in the Charlie Hall Chase way back in 2021 when going to win comfortably. He was going to beat the 152 rated Fusil Raffles comfortably, giving him 3lb and should have been rated 155 ish. On his return he was well beaten in the Ryanair Chase before then finishing a clear 2nd in a handicap at Aintree off 148. 3 Consecutive Pulled up efforts came in Dec 22, Nov 23 and Dec 23 before eventually finding a bit of form rated 142 when not beaten far at Ascot over a trip that was arguably too short for him. He was last seen finishing 3rd in the Swinley Chase at Ascot beaten 1 1/2 length by Threeunderthrufive & Rapper when he didn’t give Harry a straight forward task but still traded 2.14 in the run. He’s 10 turning 11 meaning he could be aimed the Veterans Chase series. There’s a qualifier at Aintree in October that I think we might see him run (the 2nd highest race value of these Vets races outside the Final at Sandown). If he did happen to come up against Sam Brown again he would currently be 14lb better off! As mentioned the final is at Sandown where he’s been once before and finished 2nd in the Scilly Isles Grade 1 Novice Chase beaten by Sporting John.  

The Goffer (Rated 142 Chase)

The Goffer for me doesn’t quite stay 3m despite having finished 4th & 5th in the Ultima Chase and I really hope he runs more over 2 1/2 mile this year rather than stupid trips of well over 3m+. I know we could look at his last run at Punchestown over 2 1/2 mile and say he was badly outpaced but he was never travelling and was beaten far too far out to suggest he couldn’t even go the early gallop. His best performance to date away from the Cheltenham Festival came when winning over 2m5f at Leopardstown in 2023 when winning a race worth €88,500 off a mark of 138. If he gets beat tomorrow in the Kerry National then he may well drop again from his current 142 mark and could be close to his last winning mark and surely has to be aimed at returning to Leopardstown in February whilst taking in other races over this 2m4f – 2m6f on the way.  I really like him but ONLY over 2m4f – 2m6f! 

The King of Ryhope (Rated 136 Chase)

The King of Ryhope was our selection on his last start at Aintree when he got smashed up from double figures into 7/2 favourite before running disappointingly. That came off a mark of 137 and he was dropped 1lb to 136. His owner actually believes he’ll be competing in Grade 1’s at the end of the season so a mark of 136 could look very lenient. In his career he’s never been sent off bigger than 10/1 including going off favourite 5 times including in a Grade 2 hurdle. Arguably his best run to date was when finishing 4th at Ascot in a Grade 2 when not far behind Apple Away (3rd) who has won a Mares Listed Chase since at Perth beating Mullins, Elliott & Cromwell Mares.

The King Of Ryhope looking absolutely magnificent this morning. We’ll be looking for him to win his Grade 1 this season, and his campaign will start out on the Saturday at the Chepstow Persian War Meeting in mid-October. He’s a lovely horse. There is a 10% share available in him. pic.twitter.com/LsfimryhAV

— Spectre Racing (@Spectre_Racing) September 21, 2024

I assume the race he will be aimed at is the Native River Handicap Chase on the Saturday which will hopefully be a lovely winner for us in a few weeks time then!

Trelawne (Rated 144 Chase)

Trelawne was one of our selections in the Ultima last year and he was subsequently really well backed and was sent off 5/1 (shorter price than his stablemate and winner of the race Chianti Classico) but frustratingly fell at the first fence! The fact he was so well backed is hopefully because he’s very well handicapped off 144 and he can be found a feature handicap this year. He beat Lord Snootie back in March 2023 over just shy of 3m before spending most of last season over 2 1/2 mile and running eyecatching race after eyecatching race before eventually stepping back up in trip for the Ultima. I’m convinced he would have gone very close so we have to keep our eye out for him this season. There are plenty of races he could be aimed at including the 3m1f handicap at the start of the season at Cheltenham, the Sodexo Gold Cup at Ascot, Badger Beers Chase at Wincanton or he could be dropped in the deep end in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury. He does have similarities to Datsalrightgino in that he was well backed at Cheltenham and this would essentially be his first time up in trip (falling at the first means that doesn’t count).

Your Own Story (Rated 130 Chase)

Made our list last year after an eyecatching 6th in the Scottish National off 128. Returning last year in 3 races over 2m7f, 2m7f and 3m7f finishing 2nd in all 3 only going down by a neck in the Colm Quinn BMW Chase at Punchestown over 3m7f. This is the sort of trip he needs and I think if he’s ready this year he’ll be running earlier than last season (didn’t make his return until March). Your Own Story wouldn’t have got into the Scottish National last year off his mark of 126 and still wouldn’t off his current mark of 130 so is likely to be aimed at something before then such as the Durham National at Sedgefield which is a race for horses rated 0-145 on Sunday 20th October , then the Welsh National, Eider Chase then Scottish National. Campaign sorted!

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