Dan Skelton Stable Tour

Form profile

147 rated chaser. Disappointed when favourite for the Grand Annual at Cheltenham (2m) in March but had previously finished runner-up in three top novices over two miles at Cheltenham, Sandown and Windsor. Most recent solid effort when beaten a length to No Questions Asked in the Grade 2 Lightning Novices’ Chase at WIndsor (2m) in January.

Trainer says

We will run Be Aware will take a step up in trip to two and a half miles in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase. He has had a decent year but underwhelmed a bit at the Festival. He is probably better off in a smaller field, and he should get that there.

Form profile

146 rated hurdler. Has won three of his five starts and gained his last win in a novices’ hurdle at Chepstow (2m) in February when beating Doujadou 13 lengths. Finished sixth, beaten four and a quarter lengths, to King Rasko Grey in the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m 5f) in March.

Trainer says

Bossman Jack will be one of our two runners in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle on Saturday. He made a mistake at the last and otherwise would have been second in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. A flat track will really suit him.

Form profile

Off the mark in a bumper at Fakenham in February when scoring by a length and three quarters from Beau Speed

Trainer says

Cooltobecareless, Forthfactor and Risky Obsession have all won their bumpers and deserve to take their chance in the bumper on the final day.

Form profile

136 rated hurdler. Improving young hurdler who made it three wins from 5 over timber when beating Ubatuba four lengths in the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock (3m 1/2f) in February.

Trainer says

Dalston Lad will be one of our two runners in the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle over three miles on Friday. He has been kept fresh for it and won a Grade 2 last time. The track will really suit him.

Form profile

133 rated chaser. Best effort this term when third, beaten four and a quarter lengths, to Haiti Couleurs in the Welsh National at Chepstow (3m 6 1/2f) in December off a mark of 132.

Trainer says

“He would be potentially one of our two runners in the William Hill Handicap Chase on the Saturday.

Form profile

144 rated chaser. Has been a model of consistency over fences and a winner twice and runner-up three times in 6 starts. Finished runner-up, beaten four and a quarter lengths, to Salver in the Grade 2 Hampton Novices’ Chase at Windsor (3m 1/2f) in January.

Trainer says

Doyen Quest will run in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase over three miles. He has been kept fresh for Aintree, and we missed Cheltenham with him. I think the freshness could act positively for him.

Form profile

Winner of two of his three bumpers. Made a winning debut for the stable when beating Titanium Ring six lengths in a bumper at Hexham in November and subsequently, fifth, beaten seven and a quarter lengths, to Bass Hunter in a Listed bumper at Ascot in December.

Trainer says

Cooltobecareless, Forthfactor and Risky Obsession have all won their bumpers and deserve to take their chance in the bumper on the final day.

Form profile

165 rated chaser. Scored by two and three quarter lengths from Royal Pagaille in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase on his reappearance at Haydock (3m 1 1/2f) in November and solid effort in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham (3m 2 1/2f) in March when fourth, beaten 16 ½ lengths, to Gaelic Warrior.

Trainer says

We will have a couple of entries in both the Aintree Bowl and the Melling Chase with Protektorat and Grey Dawning. We will just see which race is appropriate, but they are both in good form. Protektorat missed Cheltenham and is very well and Grey Dawning ran a great race in the Gold Cup. I am very happy with them both.

Form profile

163 rated chaser. Finished third, beaten 11 ¾ lengths, to Il Etait Temps in the Grade 1 Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham (2m) in March.

Trainer says

He will run in the Melling Chase, and we will try stepping up in trip. It hasn’t been working out at the top end over two and, hopefully, the step up will help.

Form profile

150 rated chaser. Returned to winning form with a vengeance when slamming Will The Wise seven and a half lengths in the Plate Handicap Chase at Cheltenham (2m 4f) off a mark of 140.

Trainer says

We were delighted with Madara’s win in the Plate at the Festival and he has remained in good form since. He has been raised 10lb, but he definitely goes for the Topham and he would have to have a very good chance.

Form profile

143 rated hurdler. Winner of three of his 4 hurdles and finished runner-up, beaten a length and a half, to Apolon De Charnie in the Grade 1 JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m 1f) in March

Trainer says

He is going to run in the Boodles 4-Y-O Hurdle. We are happy with the way he has come out of his race when finishing second in the Triumph Hurdle and I would hope he would run really well.

Form profile

138 rated chaser. Lost his left-fore shoe when runner-up, beaten 31 lengths, to Titan Discovery when 1-4 for a novices’ chase at Bangor (2m 1 1/2f) in February.

Trainer says

Mirabad will probably run in the Maghull Novices’ Chase on Saturday. He has some Graded placed form this year on really bad ground. We have freshened him up and he would be a player for some prize money I’m sure, but it is going to be a hard race to win with him.

Form profile

130 rated chaser. Probably best effort in three starts this season when third, beaten six and a quarter lengths, to The Jukebox Man in a Graduation Chase at Haydock (2m 5 1/2f) in November.

Trainer says

He is another who could, potentially, run in the William Hill Handicap Chase.

Form profile

Winner of one of her 2 bumpers in Ireland. Scored by five lengths from Luciole Des Bordes at Gowran Park in February when trained by Conor Houlihan.

Trainer says

She is new to us, and she will run in the Mares’ bumper on the first day. She won in Ireland and is a tough mare, I would say this race will suit her. We bought her in the January Sales, and she has settled in very nicely.

Form profile

147 rated chaser. Has won three of her 4 starts this season. Scored by four lengths from Vincenzo in the Paddy Power Gold Cup off a mark of 137 and followed up with a six and a half length victory from Three Card Brag in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (3m 2f) in November off a mark of 139. Went onto land a Listed Mares’ Chase at Newbury (2m 7 1/2f) in January by 14 lengths from Molto Bene and lost no caste in defeat when third, beaten 11 ½ lengths, to Dinoblue in a Grade 2 Mares Chase at Cheltenham (2m 4 1/2f) in March.

Trainer says

She is in great form and goes there in great form. She has kept pulling it out since the start of the season when she won the Paddy Power and the Coral Gold Cup. Her training has gone well, and I think she will see out the full trip in the National. She is a good candidate for it.

Form profile

165 rated chaser. Winner of the Fleur de Lys Chase at Windsor (2m 6f) in January for a second year running when beating Resplendent Grey three and three quarter lengths and overcame a bad error two out when following up with an eight and a half length defeat of Minella Drama in the Listed Premier Chase at Kelso (2m 7 1/2f) in February.

Trainer says

We will have a couple of entries in both the Aintree Bowl and the Melling Chase with Protektorat and Grey Dawning. We will just see which race is appropriate, but they are both in good form. Protektorat missed Cheltenham and is very well and Grey Dawning ran a great race in the Gold Cup. I am very happy with them.

Form profile

Winner on his bumper debut at Warwick in December when beating Smile John Boy before disappointing in a listed bumper at Newbury in February.

Trainer says

Cooltobecareless, Forthfactor and Risky Obsession have all won their bumpers and deserve to take their chance in the bumper on the final day.

Form profile

134 rated hurdler. Winner of two of his 6 hurdles and gained his last success when beating Four Springs five lengths in a novices’ hurdle at Warwick (2m 3f) in February. Finished fifth, beaten six lengths, to Wilful in the County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m 1f) in March off a mark of 133.

Trainer says

He will run in the Top Novices’ Hurdle on Friday, and he has done well for lots of racing. He finished fifth in the County Hurdle and ran very well. Some horses you have to restrict but he has done well for racing and enjoying it and improving for experience.

Form profile

125 rated chaser. Won his second hunter chase of the season when beating Densworth seven lengths at Leicester (2m) in March.

Trainer says

He will be our other contender in the Hunters’ Chase. He has had a good year, but it must be said that Unexpected Party is a higher rated horse.

Form profile

146 rated hurdler. Finished fourth, beaten three and a quarter lengths, to King Rasko Grey in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m 5f) in March.

Trainer says

Soldier Reeves finished fourth in the Turners Novices’ and he will also run in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle. This sort of trip is good for him and looking forward to getting him and Bossman Jack out there.

Form profile

144 rated hurdler. Scored comfortably by three and a half lengths from Lavida Adiva in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham (3m) in March off a mark of 135.

Trainer says

Supremely West and Take No Chances would be our contenders for the Liverpool Hurdle on Saturday. Supremely West has come out of his win in the Pertemps Final extremely well and it hard for these horses to step out of handicaps but you have to take your chance.

Form profile

145 rated hurdler. Finished fourth, beaten 16 lengths, to Wodhooh in the Grade 1 Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m 4f) in March.

Trainer says

Take No Chances always run a race. She gets 7lb in the Liverpool Hurdle for being a mare which is helpful and she wants three miles these days.

Form profile

131 rated hurdler. Having his second run for the stable when finishing sixth, beaten nine and a half lengths, to Saratoga in the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m 1/2f) in March off a mark of 130.

Trainer says

He will also run in the Boodles 4-Y-O Hurdle and he ran alright in the Fred Winter at the Festival. He will probably be better suited by a flat track.

Form profile

160 rated hurdler. Returned to winning form with a length and a half defeat of Nemean Lion in the Grade 2 Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m 1f) in January and subsequently third, beaten seven lengths, to Lossiemouth in the Grade 1 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m 1/2f) in March.

Trainer says

I am tempted to run The New Lion in the Aintree Hurdle on the first day. He has come out of Cheltenham well and we thought two miles four trip was more his trip before we tried him at two miles. I’m not saying he’s not a two miler but obviously he is more at home over two and half miles, and I would hope he would go very well.

Form profile

129 rated hurdler. Winner of two of his three races over hurdles and scored by 24 lengths from Quay Item in a novice event at Doncaster (3m 1/2f) in February.

Trainer says

He won very nicely over three miles at Doncaster, and he will also run in the Sefton Novices’ on Friday. He is in good form, and the track will suit him.

Form profile

147 rated chaser. Made a winning hunter chase debut at Taunton (2m 5 1/2f) in January when beating Fan De Blues four and a half lengths and followed up with a four and three quarter length win from Take All in a similar event at Haydock (2m 6f) in February.

Trainer says

I have a good chance with Unexpected Party in the Hunters’ Chase, and we have trained him for the race. He has a high handicap mark for a Hunter Chaser. He has a lot back class so hopefully he can run a very good race.