Skeltons land a double at Warwick opener

RACING returned to Warwick on Tuesday and it was very much business as usual for Alcester-based Dan and Harry Skelton who landed a double, including the feature race of the afternoon with Get Up Mush, writes David Hucker.

Skelton saddled 14 winners at the course last season, twice the number of his nearest rival, and got off the mark for the new campaign when G A Henty made virtually all the running to comfortably land the 175 Years Of Beers And Cheers Novices’ Handicap Chase over three miles.

He completed his double in the following Class 3 Weatherby’s Stallion Book Handicap Chase when Get Up Mush, ridden with great confidence by brother Harry, came from last to first, overcoming a mistake at the third-last fence, to beat Planned Paradise by two and three-quarter lengths lengths.

This was Skelton’s 54th winner of the national jumps season that started in May and increased his lead at the top of the trainers table, as well as being a significant one for Harry who moved to 48 winners overtaking Sean Bowen to become leading jockey.

School For Scandal tried to make all the running in the opening Hazelton Mountford Insurance Brokers Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase but was joined at the final fence by Smurfette, who prevailed by a short head.

Dodger Long took the honours in the Coventry and Warwickshire Food and Drink Showcase Novices’ Hurdle while the eventmasters.co.uk Mares’ Handicap Hurdle went to 12/1 shot

Apples Moon, trained on Exmoor by Nicky Martin.

The longest race on the card, the Molson Coors Handicap Hurdle over three miles and two furlongs, was divided with Craven Bay scoring on his first run for trainer Toby Lawes in the first division and Stans The Man out-gunning favourite Clararose by half a length in the second to deny the Skeltons a treble.

The closing Covcon Mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race was won by 22/1 outside Lady Buttercup, who had been sent into a clear lead by Charlie Maggs and held on to win.