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 very welcome for Dan Skelton, as he valiantly attempts to fend off the might of Willie Mullins.


For the 2nd year in a row Skelton has actually seen a large advantage in the trainers' title race quickly lessen, after Mullins dominated at Cheltenham, took the lion's share of the ₤ 1million available in the Grand National and then had the one-two in last weekend's Scottish National.


Races with this amount of prize-money - with ₤ 51,440 for top place - far from the big conferences are unusual, and with Mullins not having a runner, it is a likelihood for Skelton to retreat before the Closutton maker rolls into Plumpton and Perth over the next couple of days.


Three runs ago Le Milos won in and having been out at Newbury and Aintree since, need to find life a little simpler against horses more his age.


"We ran him at Aintree as we were looking for somewhere where the ground would be best for him," said Ladbrokes ambassador Skelton.


"The ground up here will be no problem; he's won on great ground before, and he remains in great kind.


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 since that day. Hopefully he's one of the gamers in this league and he can work out here."


Skelton is currently 3-1 with Ladbrokes to claim a very 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 taken pleasure in a fine season this term too, winning 3 of his five outings - including last time out at Ascot - however that means he is practically a stone higher in the weights.


"Numitor is actually well. This has been our objective the entire 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 remain and while he had operated on quicker ground, with a huge horse like him you are never ever quite sure. But in the end he liked the ground and he loved three miles. Hopefully that run wasn't too close however he needed a prep run since there had been a little bit of a space because he last ran.


"Although he has actually run primarily in smaller sized fields, I don't think field size is important to him as long as he enters a rhythm. He enjoys racing and he enjoys leaping - he just pings them which is what he is everything about."


Regarding the additional weight Main said: "It does not worry me excessive although I do not wish to be excessively positive. He is such a big horse and we feel the larger they are, the more they are able to carry 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 arrives on the back of a win while Dubai Days (Nick Alexander) has been focused on this all season.