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 fend off the may of Willie Mullins.
For the 2nd year in a row Skelton has actually seen a large advantage in the fitness instructors' title race rapidly reduce, after Mullins controlled at Cheltenham, took the lion's share of the ₤ 1million available in the Grand National and then had the one-two in last weekend's Scottish National.
Races with this amount of prize-money - with ₤ 51,440 for top place - away from the big meetings are rare, and with Mullins not having a runner, it is a great chance for to retreat 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 because, ought to discover 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," said Ladbrokes ambassador Skelton.
"The ground up here will be no issue; he's won on excellent ground before, and he's in excellent kind.
Le Milos won the 2022 Coral Gold Cup (John Walton/PA)
"He's running well, and certainly won at Warwick against the veterans, and this is the very first time he's been back versus the veterans because that day. Hopefully he is among the players in this league and he can work out 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.
In 2015's winner Numitor is back for more for Heather Main.
The grey has taken pleasure in a fine season this term too, winning three of his five trips - including last time out at Ascot - however that means he is nearly a stone greater in the weights.
"Numitor is truly well. This has been our aim the whole season and he is all set to go," said Main.
"Ascot last time wasn't the strategy but it ended up being his preparation race for the last on Saturday.
"We didn't know if he would remain and while he had actually run on quicker ground, with a huge horse like him you are never rather sure. But in the end he loved 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 bit of a gap since he last ran.
"Although he has actually run mostly in smaller fields, I don't believe field size is essential to him as long as he gets into a rhythm. He likes racing and he likes jumping - he simply pings them which is what he is everything about."
Regarding the additional weight Main said: "It doesn't stress me too much although I do not wish to be excessively positive. He is such a big horse and we feel the larger they are, the more they are able to carry 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 arrives on the back of a win while Dubai Days (Nick Alexander) has been targeted at this all season.