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 extremely welcome for Dan Skelton, as he valiantly attempts to fend off the might of Willie Mullins.
For the second year in a row Skelton has actually seen a significant benefit in the fitness instructors' title race quickly decrease, after Mullins controlled at Cheltenham, took the lion's share of the ₤ 1million on offer in the Grand National and after that had the one-two in last weekend's Scottish National.
Races with this amount of prize-money - with ₤ 51,440 for top place - far from the huge conferences are uncommon, and with Mullins not having a runner, it is a likelihood for Skelton to retreat before the Closutton machine rolls into Plumpton and Perth over the next few days.
Three runs ago Le Milos won in veterans' company and having been out at Newbury and Aintree since, should find life a little simpler 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 problem; he's won on great ground before, and he remains in good kind.
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 versus the veterans since that day. Hopefully he's one of the gamers in this league and he can work out here."
Skelton is currently 3-1 with Ladbrokes to declare a 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 taken pleasure in a fine season this term too, winning three of his 5 trips - including last time out at Ascot - however that implies he is almost a stone higher in the weights.
"Numitor is truly well. This has actually been our objective the entire season and he is ready to go," said Main.
"Ascot last time wasn't the strategy but it wound up being his prep race for the final on Saturday.
"We didn't know if he would stay and while he had actually run on quicker ground, with a big horse like him you are never ever quite sure. But in the end he loved the ground and he loved 3 miles. Hopefully that run wasn't too close but he required a prep run because there had actually been a bit of a gap considering that he last ran.
"Although he has actually run mainly in smaller fields, I don't believe field size is very important to him as long as he enters a rhythm. He and he loves leaping - he simply pings them which is what he is everything about."
Regarding the extra weight Main stated: "It does not worry me excessive although I don't wish to be excessively confident. He is such a huge horse and we feel the larger they are, the more they have the ability to bring the weight. I hope that shows 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 focused on this all season.