Bertimont to bypass Down Royal Harry Skelton has shelved plans to run Bertimont in the WKD Hurdle at Down Royal at the end of the month. The four-year-old will instead tackle the Stan James Elite Hurdle at Wincanton on November 8 after his win at Chepstow on Saturday. Bertimont benefited from an astute front-running ride from Harry Skelton when he was gifted a 20-length lead at halfway which he did not relinquish. He was having his first start for the jockey's brother, who mentioned a possible trip to Down Royal for the track's Grade Two event before deciding to stay much closer to home. "I've had a chat with the owner and we're not going to go to Down Royal now. The Elite Hurdle at Wincanton makes more sense and should be more his cup of tea," said Skelton. "The Down Royal race is for second-season hurdlers and was won by the subsequent champion hurdler last year in Jezki, and we just thought it would be a long way to go if Willie Mullins was to run one of his superstars. "The horses are running very well, though, which is nice."
