Protektorat has the Skeltons quickly into stride at Aintree

I didn’t expect that to happen. I said to the owners, who also had Hitman in the race, that today was a short-term plan to get a long-term result next year. I thought he’d run creditably, but I didn’t expect him to win. It’s a long way back from Kelso, where he was beaten after the second jump — he was jumping right-handed and didn’t want to be there. We mixed things up today — taking the hood off, putting the tongue-tie on and redoing his palate. That’s him done for the season now. I was thinking of starting him off back here in the Old Roan, but if the ground is right, maybe we’ll go straight to Wetherby for the Charlie Hall. It’s brilliant to have owners back. They’ve been so patient through this difficult period, but they’ve stuck by us and hopefully they’re here to stay now.

Monmiral remains unbeaten after big Aintree win

The owners weren’t keen on Cheltenham. Although usually the Triumph is a cavalry charge and this year there weren’t many runners. This is a lovely race to win and there’s lots to look forward to. It has to be the best juvenile performance by a horse this side of the (Irish) sea. It will be hard to go novice chasing next season as a five-year-old, you don’t get as much of an allowance as you used to. It might be nice to think about the Fighting Fifth, it’s something to think about over the summer. A bit of time wouldn’t hurt this lad. There’s no panic to make a decision. If he won at Newcastle then we know what route to go down.

Clan Des Obeaux continues dream day for connections at Liverpool

When he’s been here before he’s had two hard races in the Gold Cup so the best thing we did was not take him there (Cheltenham), it makes such a big difference as it’s hard to do both. Perhaps he was disappointing at Newbury, but he did give 6lb to a good horse. It woke us up though as we realised we were probably getting the tactics wrong. We know to be positive on him now. Obviously next season the King George will be his number one aim, then back here and I’d like to go for the Denman again. If the ground is decent the Betfair at Haydock is a nice race for him — as is the Charlie Hall.

Aintree Hurdle goes the way of Abacadabras

I’d imagine he’ll stay hurdling next season, but we’ll have a chat about that later on. It was disappointing at Cheltenham. Everything seems to have worked out well and it’s great he could come here today and prove himself at this level again. He seemed perfectly fine after his fall. He came out of it really well so this was an option coming soon enough, but because he felt good we took the opportunity. He was second to Honeysuckle in the Irish Champion Hurdle and he won the Morgiana back in November so we were confident he was going to run well coming here. It was a step up in trip, but it really suited him. It’s a possibility he could go to Punchestown. We’ll take him home and see how he is after the run and see what the owners want to do.

Cousin Pascal springs shock in the Foxhunter

The Red Rum goes to the Moores with Editeur Du Gite

Moore and Blackmore land Grade 2 Aintree mares bumper