Skelton reflects on Savello purchase Dan Skelton is looking forward to seeing Cheltenham Festival winner Savello compete in some of this season's top two-mile chases after snapping up the ex-Tony Martin runner at the Doncaster sales. Leading owners Gigginstown House Stud went to £215,000 to acquire the nine-year-old in December 2011 after he had won twice over hurdles and he went on to score five times over fences, including victory in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham last year. Connections decided to move him on after a recent victory at Ballinrobe and Skelton was pleased to see the hammer come down at £46,000 last Thursday. "I thought we were going to have to pay a little bit more for him, but he is nine years old so you've probably got a good 18 months or two years in him and he's not a horse that's going to retain any value because of his age," Skelton told At The Races. "He'll be a great runner for the new ladies that own him and will go to all the bigger days. "This side of the Irish Sea, the two-mile division might not be as strong as it is the other side this season. You've still got Dodging Bullets and Sire De Grugy, but on the other side it's looking like it's going to be quite hot. "He's won at Cheltenham and trying to buy a 154-rated horse is never easy. He automatically becomes the third-highest rated horse in the stable, which shows you the level of animal he is."
