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My notebook runners

Aye, I won’t be backing Martator , but I’d be delighted to see him win to give them some cheer. As jj says, you don’t become a bad trainer overnight and they must be tearing their hair out.
 
Grand Teton fell off the back and didn’t make any serious effort, although stayed on and closed the gap. Ionian, though, ran very nicely in front, but wasn’t too slick at the hurdles - even ballooned a couple. Fought hard, but couldn’t quite hold the winner with the rest half a dozen lengths behind. It was a promising run and he’ll go in the book.

Suited Norn Iron better it surely did and he won nicely (good ride from Harry Cobden, I thought).

Roses are red, violets are blue JPR One I love you - get in.

When I saw Paul Townend hit the floor out of the corner of my eye I got busy counting my chickens. Should have known better, but it was a bonza day overall.

One notebook today - 1:55 Musselburgh: Pure Carbon went in the notebook in October then won next time looking as though there was some in reserve. Then he unseated early in a race run by a horse he had beaten easily when he won the time before. -11/10 all Derham runners haven’t looked fully there yet, but Pure Carbon ran a decent second and is almost there. He was easily the slickest jumper according to jumps data. One for next time. 2/11 won nicely - maybe more? 24/11 unseated early when favourite. - He’s had a break since then, so not one you can say “ready to rock” with any confidence and it’s unusual for me to keep one in the notebook after a win. Won’t be a full bet.
 
Pure Carbon won nicely and that’ll do from him for now.

Surprisingly for a Monday I find myself with five notebooks. Unfortunately, though, there are two of them in the same race.

1:27 Kempton: Aviation - 16/1 ran very well until the last couple of furlongs which found him out. Look for him back to 2m4f. - He stays at three miles today which is a shame, but it sort of clears the decks for Il Va De Soi who I think would at least have challenged last time but for the fall - 31/12 although he was being ridden he still looked in with a live chance when falling two out. Worth another look if he’s not soured by the fall. - I’ll see if the market has anything to say.

2:02 Kempton: Neon Dream was a decent third in a Class2 at Cheltenham last time - 1/1 ran well on debut although no chance with first two. Beat the rest comfortably and should feature next time, particularly if eased in class. - and he is indeed dropped to Class4 for this one. Whether he’ll cope if the going turns nasty is unknown.

2:35 Kempton: Graecia has hit the cross bar four times since her win at Worcester and was particularly encouraging last time in a Class3 - 29/12 ran a really encouraging race in second and look for her down in class. - she is down in Class this time. Of course, her weight has been rising as a result of those near misses, but she seems be coping. If she runs up to her mark again she could just about squeak it.

3:07 Kempton: Madara was given an easy last time - 27/12 the stewards fired a warning shot across the Skeltons’ bows after this “take it easy” run. You never know when the time is right, but maybe cheekpieces will be the clue. - and I suppose trying to guess what the Skeltons are up to is a recipe for burnt fingers. No cheekpieces, either. Be wiser to leave it alone, I suppose.
 
Outsider said:
Madara a non trier again?
Click to expand...
Madara must be one to look out for in the Grand Annual next month.
Another one of the Skeltons caught the attention of the Kempton stewards today. Ice In The Veins is rated 120 and owned by his trainer.
Somebody should compile a database of horses on their next few runs where no explanation could be given for a poor run, or where the stewards ' noted ' that explanation.

Race 4 - 2:35pm
THE COPYBET SUPPORTING UK HORSE RACING HANDICAP HURDLE RACE (CLASS 4) (Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Qualifier)

The performance of ICE IN THE VEINS (IRE) which finished seventh of ten runners beaten by 41¼ lengths, was considered. It was noted that Dan Skelton’s representative could offer no explanation for the gelding’s performance other than the rider reported that the ICE IN THE VEINS (IRE) ran too free. The Veterinary Officer examined the gelding post-race and had nothing to report.
 
Jayhawk said:
Madara must be one to look out for in the Grand Annual next month.
Another one of the Skeltons caught the attention of the Kempton stewards today. Ice In The Veins is rated 120 and owned by his trainer.
Somebody should compile a database of horses on their next few runs where no explanation could be given for a poor run, or where the stewards ' noted ' that explanation.

Race 4 - 2:35pm
THE COPYBET SUPPORTING UK HORSE RACING HANDICAP HURDLE RACE (CLASS 4) (Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Qualifier)

The performance of ICE IN THE VEINS (IRE) which finished seventh of ten runners beaten by 41¼ lengths, was considered. It was noted that Dan Skelton’s representative could offer no explanation for the gelding’s performance other than the rider reported that the ICE IN THE VEINS (IRE) ran too free. The Veterinary Officer examined the gelding post-race and had nothing to report.
Click to expand...
Think I started a thread a while ago along these lines? Need to have a look for it and we can then look at all their runners/entries and add accordingly. Who was on the one today to save me looking?
 
jinnyj said:
Think I started a thread a while ago along these lines? Need to have a look for it and we can then look at all their runners/entries and add accordingly. Who was on the one today to save me looking?
Click to expand...
I cannot find a separate thread on the Skeltons' horses, but there was plenty of discussion around prospects for the season and race targeting within Jockey News in the first week ( at least ) of November 2025.
Barjon mentioned a horse named Kadastral on 5th November and he is entered for a two miles novice hurdle at Newbury on Saturday ahead of the Turners at Cheltenham.

Make Madara one for the Festival Plate, not the Grand Annual.
 
Well, what do I know. Aviation was happy with the distance after all. I didn’t back him, even though the market was encouraging. Nor did I take Il Va De Sol as the market shouted no, no, no - found out afterwards that it was just meant as a confidence boosting run over a longer distance. He pulled up. Neon Dream was quite well positioned before the last, but tired into a remote third. He’d been looking like a gangling teenager for much of the time, Graecia pulled hard running her poorest yet and the jockey couldn’t help much. Should have known better. Madara gave a late flourish once the winner was long gone.

Rotten day, winner unbacked and the only good decision was to resist Madara.

Blank today.
 
Quite a lot today.

2:00 Huntingdon: Jasmine Bliss may well be stretching it a bit at Listed level as well as facing a strong favourite who is quite comfortable at that level. Nonetheless she ran well last time and should not be disgraced - 26/12 good chase debut, looked at home and ran well in third. Should win next time at this level or below. - but that race was a Class3 and this is quite a jump. She’s probably after black type more than the win.

3:10 Huntingdon: Two of them in this, but there’s form between them. Act Of Innocence won extremely well first time sweeping Sinnatra aside on the run in with the rest a dozen lengths behind (Sinnatra went in the book for that run) and he then ran second against a likely good one - 29/11 it may prove the he was facing a mammoth task trying to hold the winner giving him lots of weight. Well clear of the remainder and worth another chance. - that winner was third in a better race next time.

Since then Sinnatra has won at Sandown as easy as you like without coming off the bridle, but there seems no good reason why he should reverse the form with Act Of Innocence. Odds-on, though, dammit

1:50 Doncaster: Count Of Vendome was a bit unlucky last time - 12/11 2nd, moved through into the lead two out and was moving strongly into the last where he made a bit of a pigs ear and lost momentum. Recovered, but couldn’t quite get back before the line arrived and went down by a neck. - and could put matters right here.

1:35 Lingfield: Raffles Nobu joined Henderson from France, rubbish. Joined Scholfield, more rubbish ….until - 19/1 looked like coming a decent second when emptied out over the last half furlong. This was a promising run, but a tad too far? Something nearer two miles would suit better, I think. - . Well, it’s two miles today and he’s down over twenty pounds from when he went to Henderson. If there’s ever to be a day ……, but not for much.

And one to watch 4:18 Huntingdon: Loch Ness Pineau who ran a nice second in a bumper last time - 12/1 favourite in the bumper he fought long and hard, but just lost out in the end. One to watch when taking to hurdles. - this one today is another bumper. Could tempted to do more than watch if the market beckons.
 

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