by TThe second scheduled race here on Friday felt like a painful summation of the entire 2023-24 season from a British jump racing perspective. Five registered runners, four from Irish stables and the only self-trained participant was the outsider of the field.
But if Path D’Ouroux’s eventual hard-fought success was the tenth for Gavin Cromwell’s County Meath yard here in just over a year, there was, from a British perspective, far more promising than Dan Skelton’s Valgrand the main event, the Grade Two Sky , Bet Novice Hurdle turned into a procession from the home round.
Skelton is a narrow favorite in the betting for the UK National Hunt trainers’ championship, which moved to Ireland for the first time in 70 years when Willie Mullins emerged victorious in April. Even Skelton seemed a little taken aback by the ease of Valgrand’s success, but if wins like this are evidence of the even stronger quality of his stable this year, he will give himself every chance.
“His time from the last three to the line might look a bit fancy, but Harry [Skelton, Valgrand’s rider] had the run of the race and the mare [Gale Mahler, the odds-on favourite] “She didn’t run her race,” Skelton said, “so we’ll probably have to take another look at that to make sure she’s in the best shape.”
“But he has a fantastic attitude and loves jumping, so what’s not to like?”
Skelton is 6-4 en route to the title, with Mullins close behind at 7-4 and Paul Nicholls at 5-1, securing a record-equaling 15th title.
“At the end of the day, you can’t fake quality,” he said. “You can prepare an average horse for a big day, you can prepare a good horse for a very big day, but you can’t fake quality and the more quality you have, the more you can concentrate on the big races.” Have the big days.
“I think we’re getting more of these horses as a team. It is a privilege to be in this position, but the reality is that it will be very difficult.
“It will be six months of hard work from us and when Willie shows up in the fifth month [in March] and does what he can do sometimes [at Cheltenham’s festival meeting]The sixth month will be a real struggle for all of us, for me, Paul, Nicky [Henderson] And if anyone else gets involved, I wish them good luck too.”
Detain has class to win the Futurity Trophy
Five of the last seven Futurity Trophy winners have won a Classic as three-year-olds, while only Ancient Wisdom, successful 12 months ago, has failed to add another Group One to its tally and there is no shortage of Classic potential in the eight-strong field for the final Group One of the British season in Doncaster on Saturday.
Wimbledon Hawkeye is likely to be favorite after his victory in the Royal Lodge Stakes in September, while Delacroix represents Aidan O’Brien, the new champion on the Flat who is aiming for a record 12th victory in the competition.
They face strong resistance Hold on (2.40) and Anno Domini, both unbeaten after two starts, and John & Thady Gosden’s colt improved slightly enough to emerge victorious.
He had a cautious start and won two minor all-weather races at Kempton, but Detain’s time last time out over seven lengths was strong and he is a fair bet at around 9-2 to give his stable a chance long overdue first success in this race.
Quick guide
Dettori back with Gosden in the Breeders’ Cup
Show
Frankie Dettori is set to replace Kieren Shoemark aboard John Gosden’s mare Emily Upjohn in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar next week, the trainer confirmed Friday.
Shoemark has been aboard the five-year-old in all six of her previous starts in 2024, including a third-place finish behind Bluestocking and Aventure, the subsequent one-two in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp in September.
Gosden told the Nick Luck Daily Podcast on Friday that Dettori’s years of experience as a driver at Del Mar made the decision to book him “very easy.”
“Kieren knows [Emily Upjohn] But I never really drove much in America and certainly not in Del Mar,” Gosden said. “She will run in the turf, Frankie lives in America and has ridden Del Mar hundreds of times. He knows the filly and he knows the route.”
Emily Upjohn, whose official first preference was for the Filly & Mare Turf, was reduced to the Turf’s second favorite at 5-1 over an extra furlong against male horses when news of the change and Dettori’s caution broke.
Cheltenham 1.10 Gavin Cromwell had three wins and two seconds ahead of five runners at this meeting 12 months ago Dutch Schultz achieves a fair record after winning by 6lb less at Killarney in August.
Doncaster 1.30 Clive Cox’s young people often find enough to run and Fast Track Harry At around 6-1, it’s looking good to build on last month’s promising debut.
Cheltenham 1.45 Millforces The hurdles left a lot to be desired in Cork last time out but he is still the most undiscovered runner in this area and should return to winning form as he starts to iron out the mistakes.
Doncaster 2.05 Last year’s winner Aberama Gold is 11lb lighter this time, goes well with cuts in the ground and seemed to be coming to a boil in Catterick last week.
Cheltenham 2.20 After a progressive novice season over fences last year, Some wiggle room In April he finished a close fourth on this route and remains at a good level for his second season of pursuit.
Quick guide
Greg Woods Saturday Tips
Show
Cheltenham 1.10 Dutch Schultz 1.45 Millforce 2.20 Some Scope 2.55 Zain Nights 3.30 Bottler’secret 4.05 Theater Man 4.40 The Dancing Tree
Doncaster 1.30 Fast Track Harry 2.05 Aberama Gold (nap) 2.40 Detain (nb) 3.15 Mustazeed 3.50 Mirabeau 4.25 Akkadian Thunder 5.00 Zip 5.30 Another Baar
Newbury 1.25 Jr Climbs 2.00 Too Much Heaven 2.34 Nap Hand 3.10 Benevento 3.45 Max Vega 4.19 Celestial Pearl 4.50 Macari
Kelso 1.35 Bold Light 2.10 Edgewell 2.45 Kingofthegame 3.20 Heart Above 3.55 Apple Away 4.30 Pay The Piper 5.05 Arctic Mann
Chelmsford 4.55 Sweet Fantastic 5.25 Prince Of Bel Lir 6.00 Bernard Spierpoint 6.30 Salamanca 7.00 Cloud Free 7.30 Cloudy Rose 8.00 Meng Tian 8.30 Batal Dandy
Cheltenham 2.55 Lucy Wadhams Zain nights It’s a difficult horse for the handicapper to get to grips with as he always does just enough, and he could record a fifth win in his last six starts here.
Cheltenham 3.30 Another win for Gavin Cromwell is imminent here The bottler’s secret is reasonably close to his form when he finished second in first grade at Punchestown in May.
