Roksana tasked with replicating Ascot form

Trainer Dan Skelton hopes Roksana can replicate the form she showed in last month’s Long Walk Hurdle when she returns to Ascot on Saturday.

The nine-year-old mare put up a competitive showing in the Grade One, run over an extended three miles, on December 19, as she finished in third-place, just two lengths behind winner Paisley Park.

Roksana will now return to the scene of that performance for Saturday’s Matchbook Betting Podcast Mares’ Hurdle and she will be running against solely fellow mares in that race.

Skelton is certainly confident the Sarah Faulks-owned horse can flourish at Ascot once again, but he knows she won’t have it all her own way, particularly against Magic Of Light, who was a winner of the race two years ago and she also finished runner-up to Tiger Roll at the 2019 Grand National for trainer Jessica Harrington.

“I’m delighted with her (Roksana) – it was a great run in the Long Walk over the course and distance,” Skelton was quoted as saying by Racing TV. “Obviously Magic Of Light is the one to beat, but I’m also respectful of the others in there.

“I think it’s a strong mares’ race, but I’m very happy with ours.”

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