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 ward off the might of Willie Mullins.
For the second year in a row Skelton has actually seen a considerable benefit in the trainers' title race rapidly reduce, after Mullins dominated at Cheltenham, took the lion's share of the ₤ 1million available 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 location - far from the huge meetings are uncommon, and with Mullins not having a runner, it is a great chance for to retreat before the Closutton maker rolls into Plumpton and Perth over the next couple of days.
Three runs ago Le Milos won in veterans' company and having been out at Newbury and Aintree considering that, ought to find life a little easier 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 great type.
Le Milos won the 2022 Coral Gold Cup (John Walton/PA)
"He's running well, and certainly 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 players in this league and he can work out here."
Skelton is currently 3-1 with Ladbrokes to claim a 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 delighted in a great season this term too, winning 3 of his five outings - including last time out at Ascot - however that suggests he is almost a stone greater in the weights.
"Numitor is truly well. This has been our goal the whole season and he is ready to go," said Main.
"Ascot last time wasn't the strategy but it wound up being his preparation race for the final on Saturday.
"We didn't understand if he would stay and while he had actually operated on quicker ground, with a big horse like him you are never quite sure. But in the end he enjoyed the ground and he enjoyed 3 miles. Hopefully that run wasn't too close however he required a prep run due to the fact that there had been a little bit of a space given that he last ran.
"Although he has actually run mainly in smaller fields, I do not think field size is important to him as long as he gets into a rhythm. He likes racing and he likes leaping - he simply pings them which is what he is all about."
Regarding the extra weight Main said: "It does not stress me excessive although I do not wish to be excessively positive. He is such a big horse and we feel the bigger 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 actually been aimed at this all season.