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Thread: Dan Skelton’s refreshing attitude

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    Dan Skelton’s refreshing attitude

    Here he is, rubbishing the idea of undefeated champions and the too great a focus on Cheltenham. I like this guy!
    https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.r...lem/467162/amp

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    G-G (9th January 2021), reet hard (9th January 2021)

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    I’ve always agreed with this, as a lad, an assistant and as an owner ( oh to be an owner where this is an option ) horses don’t get experience and earn money standing in their stables, i want to see them racing!


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    Quote Originally Posted by Len Madeiros View Post
    Here he is, rubbishing the idea of undefeated champions and the too great a focus on Cheltenham. I like this guy!
    https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.r...lem/467162/amp
    Agree with the "too great a focus damaging our sport" - in spades.

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    Is this the same Dan Skelton who spent the last few years shamelessly plotting horses for up to 2 years for the big handicaps. Talk is cheap as they say!

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    tiggers1972 (9th January 2021)

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    Spot on Beef or Salmon. You don't win Festival handicaps without plotting them to get there 10lbs or more well in these days.

    He's as full of **** as his old boss, who isn't adverse to doing the same himself.

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    A former client had a few experiences of racehorse ownership.
    His first was with Arthur Moore.
    Horse won bumper first time out so obviously the sky was the limit.
    Horse won one hurdle and one chase. A Moore would target a race six months in the future and fine if the horse was good enough; this one was just a bit short.
    He was placed fourteen times in his three years racing before sold on.
    Few years later he had a filly with Joe Crowley, whose attitude was to race while the iron was hot.
    Filly won three races in three weeks before handicapper got hold of her.
    Which was the better experience ?
    Different strokes.
    As for being full of #### , manure if spread can help growth and do good; kept in a big pile it stinks !

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    Quote Originally Posted by edgt View Post
    As for being full of #### , manure if spread can help growth and do good; kept in a big pile it stinks !
    I like that Eddie!

    I'd be in the slowly, slowly camp personally. And for what it's worth I have no problem with Skelton or anyone else handicapping horses. It's part of the game. The annoying bit is trying to claim to be whiter than white. Although I freely accept it's part of the bigger game to stay under the radar.

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    So, if we separate out what Skelton does with his handicappers - and all the trainers are at it - his approach to racing with his graded horses is refreshing. He’s happy to run these horses against all opposition. Let’s see what happens when one of his horses runs up a sequence

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    Rather than trainers being brave/shrewd, the issue really is in the number of graded races and how easy it is to plan around March by picking 3 races outside of top competition .

    Tidy up the number of options and you get clashes.

    I don't see Skelton as leading any revolution, rather he is the **** of the walk right now and has his first access to a series of useful horses.
    Last edited by granger; 10th January 2021 at 7:29 PM.
    Some people say he’s the best since Arkle and that’s certainly true when you look at what he’s done

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    I like the change in focus because, rightly or wrongly, I did think the Skeltons were hard on their horses.

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    Quote Originally Posted by granger View Post
    Rather than trainers being brave/shrewd, the issue really is in the number of graded races and how easy it is to plan around March by picking 3 races outside of top competition .

    Tidy up the number of options and you get clashes.

    I don't see Skelton as leading any revolution, rather he is the **** of the walk right now and has his first access to a series of useful horses.
    Doesn't help that the fixture list is far from optimal. The Ascot Chase really needs to be moved forward a week (swapping with Newbury) which would improve the quality of that race massively.

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