Dan Skelton believes the William Hill Half A Mill Grand National Trial could prove the perfect stage for Deafening Silence to strike, insisting he can see âno negativesâ as the lightly raced stayer heads to Haydock Park on Saturday, February 14.
The ÂŁ100,000 feature has attracted a competitive field, with 12 horses remaining after the confirmation stage, but Skeltonâs confidence in his nine-year-old is rooted in solid recent evidence. Deafening Silence has shaped with growing promise in two searching assignments this term and now steps into a race his trainer has long viewed as a natural target.
After finishing second in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle on his seasonal return, the gelded son of Alkaadhem backed that up with a commendable third in the Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow on December 27. In both starts, he travelled and stayed with purpose, answering key questions about his stamina for marathon distances.
Skelton feels the extended three-and-a-half-mile test at Haydock should play directly to his strengths.
âIâve had this race in mind for some time after the Welsh Grand National as he is obviously liking those marathon trips,â Skelton said. âI think he is in really good form and the track will suit him.
âHow the race cuts up we donât quite know, but Iâm very happy with our horse going into it. I feel like he has proven that he stays that distance and his training has been good.
âI think he is pretty versatile ground wise now he is that bit older. I donât think it holds any fears for him. I donât have no negatives about his chances.â
William Hill Half A Mill Grand National Trial in Focus
Although still relatively unexposed with just ten starts under Rules, Deafening Silence has already shown the resilience required for major staying chases. Skelton is mindful of preserving him, spacing his races carefully, but believes the current programme suits.
âIt was a great run in the Welsh Grand National and I was very proud,â he added. âIt would have been nice to have been a couple of places further up, but those marathon distances you have got to be respectful when they are there at the end as it is a big effort for them.
âHe is lightly raced for his age, and we canât race him too much, but the programme for these long distance chases does suit this horse as you can give him a month to six weeks in between them.
âIt feels like this is a nice straightforward situation for him. He is definitely still well treated over this trip as not many of them get it.â
Saturdayâs contest is also the final leg of the âHalf A Millâ initiative, which offers a ÂŁ500,000 bonus to any horse that can win one of the designated trial races and the Grand National at Aintree in the same season. While entry lists and handicap marks will ultimately determine participation in Aprilâs showpiece, Skelton admits the lure of the great race is impossible to ignore.
âWe have entered him in the Grand National because he is a stayer and if he got in it would be an interesting entry,â he said. âHe has got a lot of horses to come out to get into the Grand National so I would say at the moment that is looking unlikely because of his handicap mark, but you have got to be in it if you want to run in it.
âI would say if he got into the Grand National, he would run in it and I feel he would take to the fences.
âHe probably needs to win this quite handsomely to go up enough to get in the race. I think the Grand National is a massive step away at the moment, but Saturday could bring it closer.â
With proven stamina, careful preparation and a trainer confident in both horse and conditions, the William Hill Half A Mill Grand National Trial may offer Deafening Silence the opportunity to secure the most significant chase victory of his career to date.
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