Dan Skelton Stable Tour

Form profile

160-rated chaser. Has proved sensational since going novice chasing and winner of his three starts over fences. Jumped flawlessly when beating Zanza 13 lengths at Warwick (2m) in November and once again put in an impeccable round when beating Hitman two and a half lengths in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown (1m 7 1/2f) in December. Completed the hat-trick with a 14- length defeat of Sky Pirate in the Grade 2 Kingmaker Novices' Chase at Warwick (2m) in February.

Trainer says

Allmankind runs in the Arkle and obviously the Arkle this year needs no introduction and is hopefully going to live up to its billing and be one of the occasions of the Festival. My horse has been in great form and won his three chases and what more can you ask for. There has been a bit of public scrutiny over his jumping last time, but the ground was horrendous at Warwick and I don't have any qualms about that. There are no complaints and no excuses, and we are looking forward to it. He is a very honest horse and puts everything in and it is going to be a great race.

Form profile

145 rated chaser. Returned to winning form on his latest start in a handicap chase at Sandown (2m 4f) in February when beating Clan Legend five and a half lengths off a mark of 137.

Trainer says

Alnadam is entered in the Ultima and his participation would very much depend on rain. If we get some rain we will go, and if we don't we won't. If he does manage to get there because of the rain he would definitely have some sort of chance as he is a progressive young horse who I think will stay the trip very well. I am very happy with his season so far and we know he doesn't want sharp ground so that is why I am saying we need the rain for him. First day, good to soft ground would be fine.

Form profile

146 rated chaser. Gained his last success with a short head defeat of Ibleo at Ascot (2m 1f) in October off a mark 132 but probably better efforts when runner-up, beaten a neck, to First Flow in a handicap chase at Ascot (2m 1f) in November off a mark of 138 and when beaten two and a quarter lengths to Sky Parade in a similar event at Warwick (2m) in January off a mark of 143.

Trainer says

I don't know if Marracudja will get in the Grand Annual but Amoola Gold will certainly get in and he's been very good this year and grown up and matured. We have been very happy with him and he's improved beyond all recognition which is great. We have a lot of time for him in this sort of race as they go fast, and he needs to be produced late so it's the perfect type of race for him.

Form profile

137 rated hurdler and winner of three of his five starts. Scored by 17 lengths from Heross Du Seuil at Warwick (2m) last week.

Trainer says

Cabot Cliffs runs in the Boodles and he is a horse that post-Christmas has never stopped improving and it has been remarkable really. He has been very good at Warwick twice and his last run under a double penalty. We are really happy how is progressing into the spring and that is what you want going for a race like this.

Form profile

138 rated hurdler. Made a successful handicap bow at Kempton (2m) in December when beating Christopher Wood three and a quarter lengths off a mark of 129. Disappointing favourite for the Grade 3 Betfair Hurdle at Newbury (2m 1/2f) last month when finishing 12th, beaten 16 1/2 lengths, to Soaring Glory.

Trainer says

He didn't run to his best at Newbury and I don't know why but I wouldn't discount him for the County Hurdle. Nothing has come to light about how he ran at Newbury and maybe it was just an off day. He looked a worthy favourite on his Kempton run.

Form profile

Impressive five and a half-length winner from Windswept Girl in a bumper at Aintree in October and dead heated with Ishkhara Lady in a Listed mares’ bumper at Cheltenham in November.

Trainer says

She will go for the Champion Bumper. She is a good mare and dead-heated in a Listed race at Cheltenham in November and handled the track well. There a no negatives really - she is in very good form at home and gets 7lb. It's a very deep bumper as usual.

Form profile

137 rated chaser. Scored by three and a quarter lengths from Onthefrontfoot in a jumpers’ bumper at Newcastle last month.

Trainer says

If the ground stayed decent, he could line up in the Grand Annual but he wouldn't run if it's soft. He is definitely ground dependent this horse and I have given him a wind op and he has won a jumpers’ bumper in preparation. I would like to think he's got a nice chance if he managed to get in, but a lot of things have to go in his favour.

Form profile

165 rated chaser. Made an impressive reappearance in the Grade 2 Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton (2m) in December when beating Altior three and a half lengths.

Trainer says

Nube Negra runs in the Queen Mother Champion Chase and we are very happy with him. He has come out of Kempton well and this has always been the plan. He went to Warwick last week for a gallop and he was good. We have no excuses; we are very happy with him and his chance improves with dry ground. We ran him fresh at Kempton and he won and that is something you have to bear in mind. I would have liked to run him more as he is a great competitor, but we just couldn’t, and we just had to sit quiet and do the best for him. I think the best thing is coming to Cheltenham fresh.

Form profile

146-rated chaser. Close up when blundering and unseating rider three out in a valuable handicap chase won by Two For Gold at Warwick (2m 4f) in February off his current mark.

Trainer says

He would run in the Paddy Power Plate. He has run a couple of times in this race and is good around Cheltenham. His season just hasn't gone to plan yet, and he is normally very consistent and we just haven't got a smooth run with him this year. I am basically waiting for him to turn up and if he gets a bit of nicer ground it will only help him more. I'm really looking forward to running him and I think he will be competitive.

Form profile

131 rated hurdler. Has won two jumpers’ bumpers at Newcastle in January and February on the latest occasion scoring by a length and three quarters from Wise Eagle.

Trainer says

His participation in the County Hurdle would depend on this weekend. He has a couple of entries at Newbury and Kelso and would need to win to have any chance of getting in. He is massively ground dependent and if you got some good ground, he is a big player.

Form profile

153 rated hurdler and has looked better than ever this season. Scored by eight and a half length from Next Destination in the Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby (3m) in October and lost no caste in defeat when third, beaten two lengths, to Paisley Park in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot (3m 1/2f) in December. Hacked up by eight lengths to Magic of Light in a Grade 2 Mares’ Hurdle at Ascot (2m 7 1/2f) in January on latest start.

Trainer says

At the moment I am thinking of running her in the Mares’ race. That's where I would like to run but obviously the ground would be the deciding factor. Willie Mullins's Concertista needs a lot of respect but Roksana has the proven level and I think that is the level that sets the standard. In the Stayers’ you have two that we took on at Christmas time in the Long Walk (Paisley Park and Thyme Hill) that we didn't beat but that may not always be the case and on the day, you can get a different result. Though we are looking down the mares’ route at the moment. We have learnt everything about her, and she is in the best form she has ever been in her life.

Form profile

152 rated chaser. Completed a hat-trick over fences when beating The Big Breakaway three and three quarter lengths in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices Chase at Kempton (3m) on Boxing Day and since runner-up, beaten three and a quarter lengths, to Sporting John in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown (2m 4f) in February.

Trainer says

On Thursday we have Shan Blue in the Marsh Novices' Chase. He is a horse that I like an awful lot and a very forward going and good jumping horse. I think he would have a fair chance. Envoi Allen is in there and is going to be very hard to beat but Cheltenham is a different thing, and we have to get stuck in. I am very happy with him.

Form profile

141 rated hurdler. Finished runner-up, beaten a length, to Blackjack Kentucky on his return to hurdling in a Pertemps Qualifier at Chepstow (2m 7 1/2f) in February off a mark of 139.

Trainer says

In the Coral Cup we will have to sneak one in at the bottom of the weights if we can, but wherever Spiritofthegames runs over hurdles he will be interesting. He is a seasoned campaigner, and he knows how to compete in these big races and if he goes in the Coral Cup or the Pertemps, which he is qualified for, I would like to think he would be a strong competitor. He stays and travels well, and these are always very deep races, but I would like to think he has some sort of chance.

Form profile

143 rated hurdler. Scored for the third time over hurdles this season when beating Flic Ou Voyou nine length at Kempton (2m) on Boxing Day and fourth, beaten five lengths, to Bareback Jack in the Scottish Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Musselburgh (1m 7 1/2f) after sprawling badly at the last.

Trainer says

We have two entries for the Supreme but Third Time Lucki is the one I am considering for the race at the moment. He is also in the County Hurdle and I just want to wait and see and have a look for him and also taking into consideration the ground. He is a very good bumper horse and has won three hurdles this year and just been beaten in a Grade 2. You can forget his last run at Musselburgh on a track that didn't suit him and, in hindsight, perhaps I shouldn't have run him the there. He was a short price to win and foolishly I thought we would get away with it but there we go. I am very happy with him coming into this Festival and whichever race he runs in I am sure he will be competitive.

Form profile

146 rated hurdler. A winner of three of his four race over hurdles and scoring by seven and a half lengths from The Glancing Queen in a Listed novice hurdle at Exeter (2m 1f) in February.

Trainer says

We have a few entered in the Ballymore on the Wednesday and Wilde About Oscar is the probable for the race if it really rained. There are better alternatives for him if it doesn't.