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Equinties - Skelton yard tour
BGP Capital
February 18, 2026
Gm, Equinauts
We missed this great bit of banter yesterday:
but anyway, he’s in and we will be there because, why tf not!!?
Let’s dive in.
HEADLINE ROUNDUP
GRAND NATIONAL WEIGHTS
Liverpool hosted racing’s Weights Lunch yesterday, and we have pulled together the key takeaways you need ahead of the worlds most famous race.
Firstly, and the wizard Willie Mullins will be represented by just shy of a third of the whole field - 10 guaranteed runners of the the field of 34. Insane as usual.
His headline act will be last years winner NICK ROCKETT who has had a few setbacks so is not a banker to even line up making 2020’s winner I AM MAXIMUS captain of the team off top weight.
When asked for Mullins’ own fancy out of his squad, he was quick to name last years Scottish National winner CAPTAIN CODY as biggest beneficiary from the handicapper who only carries 10’10 off BHA 158.
Given Lucinda Russell only has MYRETOWN entered (she’s the only current trainer who has stopped the Irish in the last ten years) it would be best to stick to looking at the Irish horses for your winner, so what other raiders will be running off a potentially lenient mark?
JORDANS for Joseph O’Brien was unlucky not to win the Mildmay last year and is in off only 1lbs higher than his Irish rating, and recent XC winner FAVORI DES CHAMPDOU is lumped with 8lbs higher for his ability to navigate the type of course… he will look to do the XC GN double which Gordon Elliott has done before so famously with the legend TIGER ROLL.
Of the British, IROKO seems to be the main hope. He has been hard to weight up for the handicapper who admits connections have been clever with their race planning (they’re basically saying they have been trying to get him beat). Trainer Ollie says he is improving and thinks he can go better than last year when 4th. He just needs it soft.
Dan Skelton will be praying to the rain Gods on their behalf so Mullins don’t lad the 1-2-3-4-5!
SKELTON FESTIVAL YARD TOUR
Talking of big Dan, his Festival yard tour has arrived so here are the key comments from the the man who is miles clear in this years British trainers title.
Hurdlers:
KABRAL DU MATHAN might go to Cheltenham but the stayers might be a distinct possibility.
MY DADDY PADDY will be better seen over more hurdles in the Supreme than last time when they were omitted owed to low sun.
THE NEW LION is clearly loved by Dan who says ‘he’s good enough to win the Champion Hurdle’.
SUPREMELY WEST has ‘a solid each-way chance’ (in the Pertemps) back at 3 miles. He’s been running over too short a trip.
THE MIGHTY CELT has a high rating but ran eye-catchingly at the weekend. The relation to FELIX DESJY will be a player in a fast run Fred Winter. Runs off 131 (1lbs higher than last years winner for JO’B).
MONEYGARROW is too big at 33’s for the Albert Bartlett (says Dan).
MAESTRO CONTI has ‘a massive chance’ in the Triumph. On a personal note, we thought his last run at Cheltenham was huge.
TELLHERTHENAME will go to the County Hurdle super fresh (having moved from JJ’s) and was the only horse Dan started off by saying ‘he’s good horse’ which could indicate he’s well handicapped. Dan won this race two years ago with a 33/1 winner!
Chasers:
BE AWARE brings high class novice form to the Grand Annual and is ‘interesting’ in handicaps.
L’EAU DU SUD needs to be super fresh and should have a top 3 finish or better in him for the Champion Chase.
MADARA is ante-post fave for the Plate and has a ‘real competitive chance’.
GREY DAWNING is in better form than last year having not had a hard run at Cheltenham last time out.
PANICK ATTACK should go very close in the Mares Chase and is bouncing at home.
Bumper:
DIAMOND STREET has an ew chance if the conditions are slow enough.
THE SKECHER is ‘a real big galloping type’ and will need a slow ground bumper.
So, from the above who would we be backing in an ante-post Skelton perm (because he’s going to have a few winners, isn’t he)?
Form his comments and reading their recent form, we think THE MIGHTY CELT in the old Fred Winter, MADARA in the Plate, SUPREMELY WEST in the Pertemps and TELLEHERTHENAME in the County. The luck 15 pays 109k/1 lmao. Beer money on that for banter!
SOUTHWELL FRIDAY - IT’S ON!
That is all.
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