Trackside Live Horses to Follow including Horaces Pearl and Kateira

Getawhisky (Dan Skelton)

November 21, Ascot – The Bet With Ascot Donation Box Scheme ‘Introductory’ Hurdle

Although not anticipated that a horse-to-follow would come out of the three-runner contests at Ascot on Friday, Dan Skelton’s Getawhisky caught the eye in a race that should have been dominated by either the withdrawn Idaho Sun or the newly-installed favourite Doctor Blue.

Sent out in front by Harry Skelton, Getawhiskey was cautious at first, but as she settled into a rhythm, the mare started pricking her ears and measuring the hurdles, beginning to put her two rivals under pressure as she came to the third-last flight. Opinions differ in the in-running comments but the mare appeared to crumple on landing after a positive jump, falling to her knees before completing the course riderless. Although Doctor Blue ran out a convincing winner, there was a moment the mare looked to have her rivals on the run; a small moment in a race which could be overlooked.

If her confidence has not been dented by the fall, Getawhiskey looks a winning proposition in mares novice hurdle company – with a matching attractive starting price, given her form figures so far.

Diamond Hunter (Chris Gordon)

November 22, Haydock - Newton Novices Hurdle (Grade 2)

Sticktotheplan had been the paddock pick for the Persian War at Chepstow on his previous start and once again looked paddock best once the rugs came off, very fit for this, but he could never land a blow against all-the-way winner Diamond Hunter, who was kicking off a very good day for Chris Gordon, the first of three winners for him on the day.

Make no mistake, if there was one you wanted to take out of this with the future in mind beforehand it would have been Diamond Hunter. A proper, old-fashioned chasing type, placed in three of his four point-to-points in the spring, I didn’t think he’d have the speed to hold off the more “for now” types but he simply galloped them into submission, never looking likely to relinquish his lead once turning for home.

It would be easy to write this off as a bit flukey, but it wasn’t; he’s a good horse and one to follow this winter.

Horaces Pearl (Fergal O’Brien)

November 22, Haydock - Betfair Stayers Handicap Hurdle

In some ways a strange one to throw into the column, as we tend to identify horses that perhaps we thought weren’t match fit on the day - which Horaces Pearl was - but there are other mitigating factors on the day that make him of interest next time out.

As has been the case before, he was on his toes in the parade ring (was one of the later ones to be brought in, connections know he can be a bit keen, I think) but perhaps not to the extent he has been before, and I’d say he’s slowly learning to settle better pre-race. (It took Jonbon about four years to realise winding yourself up pre-race isn’t the way, so there’s hope for all.) On a day when racing prominently was the order of the day, Horaces Pearl was the only one held up at the rear of the field to make any impression at all on the top half of this field, coming with a challenge from three out but weakening from the last.

This should have taken a bit of the freshness out of him, and when they find a race where being held up will play to his strengths, he’ll be winning.

Kateira (Dan Skelton)

November 22, Ascot – Ascot Hurdle

There’s a resistance to getting on the Cheltenham bandwagon in November, but Kateira put in a strong audition for the Mares’ Hurdle against the boys (and Wodhooh) in the Ascot Hurdle.

Dan Skelton’s mare has always been talented and she has taken the scalps of some useful horses over her career – defeating fellow Ascot winner Jango Baie in a handicap hurdle at Aintree in 2024 and romping home, twenty-eight lengths clear of last year’s Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace (who had excuses), on seasonal reappearance at Wetherby.

A small, neatly put together mare, she falls short in open company but her female only record gives cause for interest ahead of the Mares’ Hurdle. Fit from her reappearance run, she finished a well-beaten fourth behind Wodhooh in the Ascot Hurdle but it was a performance that defied her odds and some fair yard sticks.

The Skelton team would have to perform some sorcery for Kateira to turn around the Wodhooh form come March, but she appeals as an each-way prospect – 33/1 available. Should the mare skip Cheltenham to help the trainers championship tussle, she’d be equally interesting at Aintree along the same lines.

Published at 1120 GMT on 23/11/25

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