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 to ward off the might of Willie Mullins.
For the second year in a row Skelton has seen a significant benefit in the fitness instructors' title race rapidly lessen, 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 first place - away from the big conferences are unusual, 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' company and having actually been out at Newbury and Aintree given that, must discover life a little easier versus horses more his age.
"We ran him at Aintree as we were searching for somewhere where the ground would be best for him," said Ladbrokes ambassador Skelton.
"The ground up here will be no problem; 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 obviously won at Warwick versus the veterans, and this is the very first time he's been back against the veterans because that day. Hopefully he is among the gamers in this league and he can go well here."
Skelton is currently 3-1 with Ladbrokes to declare a very first title after keeping Mullins (2-9) at arm's length through the week.
Last year'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 five trips - consisting of last time out at Ascot - but that means he is almost a stone greater in the weights.
"Numitor is really well. This has actually been our aim the whole season and he is ready to go," stated Main.
"Ascot last time wasn't the strategy however it ended up being his preparation race for the final on Saturday.
"We didn't know if he would remain and while he had actually worked on quicker ground, with a big horse like him you are never rather sure. But in the end he loved the ground and he liked 3 miles. Hopefully that run wasn't too close however he required a prep run since there had been a bit of a gap because he last ran.
"Although he has run mainly in smaller sized fields, I don't believe field size is very important to him as long as he gets into a rhythm. He loves racing and he loves leaping - he just pings them which is what he is everything about."
Regarding the extra weight Main said: "It does not fret me too much although I don't wish to be overly confident. He is such a huge horse and we feel the bigger they are, the more they are able to carry 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 arrives on the back of a win while Dubai Days (Nick Alexander) has actually been intended at this all season.