Le Milos Carrying Skelton Hopes Into Battle At Haydock
Victory for Le Milos in the ₤ 100,000 Unibet Middle Distance Veterans' Handicap Chase at Haydock would be really welcome for Dan Skelton, as he valiantly tries to fend off the might of Willie Mullins.
For the 2nd year in a row Skelton has actually seen a sizeable advantage in the trainers' title race quickly reduce, after Mullins controlled at Cheltenham, took the lion's share of the ₤ 1million on deal in the Grand National and after that had the one-two in last weekend's Scottish National.
Races with this quantity of prize-money - with ₤ 51,440 for top place - away from the big conferences are uncommon, and with Mullins not having a runner, it is a likelihood for Skelton to pull away before the Closutton maker rolls into Plumpton and Perth over the next few days.
Three runs ago Le Milos won in veterans' company and having actually been out at and Aintree since, must find life a little much easier against horses more his age.
"We ran him at Aintree as we were trying to find someplace where the ground would be best for him," stated Ladbrokes ambassador Skelton.
"The ground up here will be no issue; he's won on good ground before, and he remains in good form.
Le Milos won the 2022 Coral Gold Cup (John Walton/PA)
"He's running well, and undoubtedly won at Warwick against the veterans, and this is the very first time he's been back against the veterans since that day. Hopefully he is among the players in this league and he can work out here."
Skelton is currently 3-1 with Ladbrokes to claim a very first title after keeping Mullins (2-9) at arm's length through the week.
In 2015's winner Numitor is back for more for Heather Main.
The grey has actually enjoyed a fine season this term too, winning three of his 5 outings - including last time out at Ascot - but that suggests he is practically a stone greater in the weights.
"Numitor is really well. This has been our goal the whole season and he is all set to go," stated Main.
"Ascot last time wasn't the strategy however it wound up being his prep race for the last on Saturday.
"We didn't know if he would remain and while he had actually operated on quicker ground, with a huge horse like him you are never rather sure. But in the end he loved the ground and he loved 3 miles. Hopefully that run wasn't too close but he needed a prep run because there had actually been a bit of a gap since he last ran.
"Although he has actually run primarily in smaller sized fields, I don't believe field size is necessary to him as long as he enters into a rhythm. He loves racing and he likes jumping - he just pings them which is what he is everything about."
Regarding the extra weight Main said: "It does not stress me too much although I don't want to be extremely positive. He is such a huge horse and we feel the larger they are, the more they are able to bring the weight. I hope that proves the case on Saturday."
Joe Tizzard runs both Eldorado Allen and The Widow Maker, Henry Hogarth's Flic Ou Voyou gets here on the back of a win while Dubai Days (Nick Alexander) has been aimed at this all season.