Skelton heading into Peterborough Chase confident in Protektorat

Dan Skelton believes Protektorat “should be hard to beat” in Sunday’s Trustatrader Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon.

Last season’s impressive Ryanair Chase winner faced a stiff task on his seasonal return when carrying a big weight in the Paddy Power Gold Cup back at Cheltenham.

While he once again is giving weight away, along with the Old Roan winner Minella Drama, he is meeting Paul Nicholls’ Ginny’s Destiny, a smart novice last year but pulled up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, on 6lb better terms.

“The Peterborough Chase is a race I have had in mind for Protektorat all season,” said Skelton.

“I wanted to get started with him earlier than the Paddy Power, but we couldn’t because of the ground.

“He now has that Paddy Power run under his belt and is the leading horse on ratings going into Sunday. He should be hard to beat.”

Nicholls had mooted stepping Ginny’s Destiny up to three miles but has resisted the temptation so far.

“The softer the ground the better for him,” he told Betfair.

“He’s getting weight off Protektorat and a couple of the others and if he can bounce back to form he must have a leading chance.”

Ginny’s Destiny finished second to Skelton’s Grey Dawning at the Festival in March. Djelo and Nickle Back complete the field.