Robin Roe

Robin Roe put up a nice performance to win the two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle at Aintree on Sunday. Settled nicely out the back of the field by Harry Skelton through the early stages of the race, his jumping was good and he moved nicely through his field to travel well just behind the leaders on the run around the home turn. He and favourite No Comment moved on together from the top of the home straight, but it always looked like Robin Roe was travelling better. He moved to the front on the run to the last and, after No Comment got the final flight wrong, he came easily clear on the run-in to win easily, leaving the impression that he had plenty in hand.

This was a nice start for Dan Skelton’s horse over hurdles. Winner of one of his two point-to-points and second in the other, he ran just once for Skelton last season, in a Class 6 Warwick bumper, which he won with more in hand than the one-and-a-half-length winning margin. He is reportedly highly-regarded by his trainer, who mentioned the Challow Hurdle as a potential target now. That is a legitimate target, and there could be a lot more to come from the Robin Des Champs gelding. He is an exciting prospect.

23^rd October 2016