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 very welcome for Dan Skelton, as he valiantly attempts to ward off the may of Willie Mullins.
For the second year in a row Skelton has seen a considerable benefit in the trainers' title race rapidly reduce, after Mullins dominated at Cheltenham, took the lion's share of the ₤ 1million on deal in the Grand National and then had the one-two in last weekend's Scottish National.
Races with this quantity of prize-money - with ₤ 51,440 for very first location - away from the huge are rare, and with Mullins not having a runner, it is a great chance for Skelton to pull away before the Closutton device rolls into Plumpton and Perth over the next couple of days.
Three runs ago Le Milos won in veterans' business and having been out at Newbury and Aintree considering that, must find life a little simpler versus horses more his age.
"We ran him at Aintree as we were searching for 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 excellent ground before, and he's in excellent form.
Le Milos won the 2022 Coral Gold Cup (John Walton/PA)
"He's running well, and clearly won at Warwick versus the veterans, and this is the first time he's been back against the veterans since that day. Hopefully he's one of the players in this league and he can work out here."
Skelton is presently 3-1 with Ladbrokes to declare 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 delighted in a fine season this term too, winning 3 of his five trips - including last time out at Ascot - however that means he is almost a stone greater in the weights.
"Numitor is really well. This has been our goal the entire season and he is ready to go," said Main.
"Ascot last time wasn't the strategy however it wound up being his prep race for the final on Saturday.
"We didn't know if he would remain and while he had actually operated on quicker ground, with a big horse like him you are never ever quite sure. But in the end he liked the ground and he liked three miles. Hopefully that run wasn't too close but he required a prep run because there had been a little a space given that he last ran.
"Although he has run mostly in smaller fields, I don't think field size is essential to him as long as he enters a rhythm. He enjoys racing and he enjoys leaping - he just pings them which is what he is everything about."
Regarding the extra weight Main said: "It doesn't fret me excessive although I don't want to be excessively confident. He is such a big 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.