Nube Negra connections are below no illusions in regards to the process dealing with final 12 months’s runner-up at Betway Queen Mom Champion Chase in Cheltenham.
The eight-year-old, coach Dan Skelton, misplaced solely half of his size within the two-mile championship final season, making a wonderful begin to the present season with a win over Cheltenham’s Shellor Chase in November.
He was disenchanted when he was nice at Tingle Creek in Sandown the next month, however having been recent since then, Skelton expects to see the actual Nube Negra upon his return to Prestbury Park.
“He is an incredible trying horse and his work in the home is all the time superb, which is what you’d anticipate from two horses,” the Lodge Hill handler mentioned.
“He went to Warwick that day. We did not ask him any questions, it was only a day trip.
“A very powerful factor with this horse is to get it very refreshed. When you have it from behind in a month, will probably be very shut.
“It places quite a bit into operating and leaping – it simply emptied the tank.”
It is a measure of the depth of this 12 months’s Champion Chase that the Nube Negra ranks solely fourth out there with a 10-1 common, which focuses a lot of the pre-race curiosity on the rematch between Nicky Henderson’s Shishkin and Willy Mullins’ Energumene. After their large conflict at Ascot.
With Mullins additionally casting optimistic votes on Chuckun Bor Sui, who solely completed third when he was a favourite at Cheltenham 12 months in the past, Skelton admitted his star is off.
He mentioned: “Shishkin is excellent, Energumene is excellent and if you happen to hearken to Willie, Chacun Pour Soi is best than Energumene, so it is a sizzling race.
“That is earlier than you introduced in top-tier winners like Greaneteen and others – who would have thought Envoi Allen can be 20-1 within the first division this time final 12 months?
“We’re very proud of our horses and there may be nothing I can do in regards to the others.
“You hope a transparent spherical arrives, a transparent spherical whenever you get there and what will probably be.”
The subsequent afternoon, Skelton appears to saddle Shan Bleu within the Ryanair chase.
The eight-year-old has been off the monitor since struggling a extreme fall when he seemed to take dwelling a giant winner at Charlie Corridor Chase in Weatherby in October, however his coach is quietly assured of his prospects on the pageant.
“Clearly he would have received Charlie Corridor with a transparent run, however phrase” however “an incredible phrase within the sport and he hasn’t,” Skelton mentioned.
“He reduce his neck that fall, as you’d anticipate – it was a reasonably terrible fall.
“We gave him loads of time and determined to go the primary class method. I do know his mark of 148 appears very cool, however he’s a category 1 horse and he needs to be at school 1 racing.
“He appears superb – I used to be significantly proud of this horse. He went to Warwick the opposite day and he went very properly. We did a whole lot of leaping with him and I’m very proud of what I noticed.
“He is embracing individuals’s thought of a banker in God, however if you happen to look additional than that, it appears just like the race might break down dramatically.
“I actually like this horse and I believe there may be a whole lot of unfinished enterprise.”
Skelton additionally has a robust hand in hurdles as he tries so as to add to his 4 earlier wins on the pageant.
Dr. Parnassus is seen as a critical participant within the JCB Triumph Hurdle, whereas West Cork – winner of the Greatwood Hurdle earlier within the season – might present his coach with a fourth success within the County Hurdle.
“Dr. Parnassus is constructed like a tank and is a extremely robust and professional horse,” mentioned Skelton.
“After we purchased it, I believed it might be an added milkshake and switch issues round. I believed it might be a quite simple transition to the hurdles and it was.
“I used to be not stunned as a result of he has the bodily and psychological perspective to take action.
“He would not thoughts getting within the filth and I do not suppose he even thinks in regards to the floor. He is bought a Forrest Gump perspective – simply run!”
“I actually like West Cork. He clearly received a Greatwood race from a really lengthy break after which had a horrible overtaking in Ascot – I’ve by no means seen a nasty overtake with any horse.
“Having this overtake and having him for 2 weeks on a horse walker with out having the ability to run virtually ensured that he would not be capable of run but.
“I cannot return on what I mentioned – I mentioned going to Ascot that this horse is a graded horse and I nonetheless suppose so.
“We all the time have one eye on the County Hurdle and I believe it is nearly as good an opportunity as we bought there – it will not be far-off.”
Skelton additionally gave optimistic references to Too Pleasant who believes he has a “good profile” within the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle and an sudden Coral Cup contender.
In higher odds, Skelton is eager on nurse Susan’s possibilities on the Parnell junior property hurdle in Maris and Balegriffinkotag linked to Albert Bartlett.
He added: “An sudden celebration received splendidly at Ascot and bought a mark of 142. You actually need a horse graded in a handicap to win and I hope he is that class – I am positive he is a contender.
“Nurse Susan is a giant, majestic mare and I appreciated her very a lot. I believe she’s bought all of it.”
Skelton has additionally revealed to one-time Arkley that third-time Loki is “completely sure” to skip Cheltenham in favor of his Aintree look in April, as has good Marie Elle Est Belle.
