Let It Rain and Harry Lowes lead Skelton bid in Greatwood

Dan Skelton appears to have two serious chances with Let It Rain and Harry Lowes in Sunday’s Unibet Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The champion trainer has five of the 20 declared runners but it is the mare Let It Rain and the JP McManus-owned Harry Lowes who are leading his team.

If Skelton wins there is a good chance the winner will be ridden by a Harry, with his brother on Let It Rain and Harry Cobden on Harry Lowes.

“I’m very happy with them, Let It Rain has been on our grass gallop so she’s had a bit of an away day and Harry Lowes ran in a charity race so hopefully the freshness is out of them and they are not too keen early,” said Skelton. “They’ve both got great chances.”

McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry said of Harry Lowes: “It will be a hot race, but Dan seems to be really happy with him. A drop of rain wouldn’t go amiss for him, I would say, but we’re hoping for the best.

“It’s hard to say he’s well-handicapped because he has to go and do it now. He could be, but you have to see it first – you would be hoping but he needs to show it on the track and hopefully he can give a good account.”

Skelton also runs The Mighty Celt ridden by another Harry, Atkins, as well as Knickerbockerglory and Listentoyourheart.

He went on: “I can’t say The Mighty Celt has got his optimum conditions because I think he wants slower ground, but he’s coming to a point where I could really start fancying him.

“The other two run well in these races but look badly handicapped.”

The Kemble Brewery is aiming to pull off a long-term plan for Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls but has 11st 12lb.

“This has always been the plan for him, all summer,” said Bailey.

“He’s quite lightly raced for a horse of his age, every season we hope for the best with him. This time he’s had a very good break, he’s come back in and this has been his target all along.

“The ground is perfect for him so there are no negatives yet!”

The Nicky Henderson-trained Iberico Lord has top-weight with 12st having won the race back in 2023.

“He has won it before and his CV says everything is right. I’m not saying he won’t come on for it, but he’s been away for a few gallop and he’s a very good horse,” said Henderson.

Burdett Road is another former winner back again for James Owen. Only four when winning in 2024, he ran well in the Ebor on the Flat in the summer.

“I think he’s coming back to himself and ran OK on his comeback at Carlisle,” said Owen.

“He’ll be fine on the good ground and I think the plan is to keep over hurdles this winter and get him to the Cheltenham Festival.

“The County Hurdle will be a nice aim and we will see how he gets on here and take it from there.”