Skelton and Kirkland dream of pre-Gold Cup glory with Double Measure in Kempton | At The Races

Dan Skelton and owner Robert Kirkland are dreaming of Gold Cup glory with Gray Dawning next month, but before then Double Measure are bidding to boost their morale in the Ladbrokes Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton.

Kirkland has long been a supporter of Skelton and has seen him become the country’s leading trainer, and the pair celebrated Gray Dawning’s success together at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.

Double Measure could be the latest star given how easily he won at Huntingdon last time and although he is among the outsiders for the Supreme next month, he is set to become favorite for this Grade Two.

“This is a race I’ve had in mind for him for a while,” Skelton told Ladbrokes.

“He won at Huntingdon last time and this is obviously a similar track. He’s in good form. He needs to step up but I feel as he gets older he’ll get a bit stronger and we’ll get a bit more experience with him. I think he’s going in the right direction and I think he’ll be a key player.”

Harry Derham’s Klub De Reve was a 10-length winner on his last visit to Kempton on Boxing Day and is another prominent player in the market.

“This has been the plan since Boxing Day, then we sat down and thought about whether we should take a penalty for a regular novice or try to run a nice race,” said Derham.

“We decided that because he had done a few runs in quite quick succession, we would freshen him up and get him in good shape for the Dovecote.

“I think it’s a pretty open race. Any one of a number of horses could win the race, but he goes there in good form.

“We know he loves the track and he has been quite progressive. If he continues to progress that should get him there.”

Another likely contender is Nicky Henderson’s Mustang Du Breuil, bought by JP McManus after his win at Auteuil in October. He then won on his British debut in Doncaster.

“I was very happy with him at Doncaster, even though it may not have been the strongest race, but he is a person we really like and who is constantly learning,” said Unibet ambassador Henderson.

“He jumps very nicely and the ground will be in his favor, so hopefully he can finish quite smart.

“He would have had three runs after this and needs the experience when we look at the Fred Winter.”