Skelton and Kirkland dream of pre-Gold Cup glory with Double Measure at Kempton

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

Kirkland has been a long-standing supporter of Skelton and has seen him develop into the leading trainer in the country and the pair celebrated Grey Dawning’s success at the Cheltenham Festival together in 2024.

Double Measure could be the latest star given how easily he won at Huntingdon last time out and while he is among the outsiders currently for the Supreme next month, he is set to go off favourite for this Grade Two.

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

“He won last time at Huntingdon, and obviously this is a similar track. He’s in good form – he needs to step up, but I feel like as he’s getting older, he’s getting a bit stronger and we’re getting a bit more experience into him. I think he’s going the right way, and I think he’ll be a main 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 in the market.

“This has been the plan since Boxing Day, we sat down after that and thought about whether we should carry a penalty in an ordinary novice or try to run in a nice race,” said Derham.

“We decided that, as he’d had a few runs in fairly quick succession, we’d freshen him up and get him in really good shape for the Dovecote.

“I think it’s quite an open race, any one of a number of horses could win the race but he goes there in good shape.

“We know he loves the track and he’s been quite progressive, if he keeps progressing then it should put him right there.”

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

“I was very pleased with him at Doncaster, albeit it may not have been the strongest race, but he’s a person we like a lot and is learning all the time,” said Unibet ambassador Henderson.

“He jumps very nicely and the ground will be in his favour so hopefully he could end up pretty smart.

“He’d have had three runs after this and needs the experience if we are going to be looking at the Fred Winter.”