Dan Skelton is a man that knows plenty about training winners and although the majority tend to come away from the big festivals, he’s quickly developing a talented team of horses who could rock some of the bigger names this season.
Several Grade One’s went his way last term and thanks to names such as My Drogo, Protektorat and Nube Negra, there could be plenty more to come.
5yo, bay gelding
Form: /311141-
Verdict: A classy novice chaser last season who won four of his six starts including the Grade One Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown in December, as well as a pair of Grade Two’s. The latest of those came of 2m4½f at Ayr, and he may stay that sort of distance this season with a run at Chepstow or Newton Abbot expecting before taking in the Old Roan at Aintree.
8yo, bay gelding
Form: /21817-
Verdict: A solid handicapper last season, winning twice at Sandown, before finishing 7th in the Ultima at the Festival. He’s one that looks plenty of cut in the ground and won’t mind a slog in the mud throughout the winter months.
8yo, bay gelding
Form: /11228-
Verdict: Progressed nicely last season, winning his first two starts of the campaign, including a Listed event at Ascot in October. He was second in handicap company at Ascot and Warwick after that, and was far from disgraced in the Grand Annual at the Festival. Should still be competitive off his current handicap mark.
7yo, bay gelding
Form: /2115P4-
Verdict: Won at Wetherby and Uttoxeter last season, but failed to build on that in Graded company at three miles, with his best effort coming when 4th in a Grade 3 handicap at Aintree. There should still be more wins in him, but probably not at Graded level.
5yo, bay gelding
Form: /1214-
Verdict: A decent performer on the Flat, this 5yo made a bright start over hurdles, winning twice and being narrowly denied at Kempton in the Greatwood. He was later 4th in the Scottish Champion Hurdle and should be a horse to follow closely this season. He’ll start in the Welsh Champion Hurdle and might even be one for the Greatwood.
5yo, bay mare
Form: 1132-
Verdict: Is proving to be a very classy mare who could have more to come this season over hurdles. Bumper wins at Aintree and Cheltenham were a great introduction to life on the racecourse in 2020, and she backed that up at the same courses in the New Year, finishing 3rd in the Champion Bumper at the Festival and the Mares Bumper at Aintree. Put her in your tracker.
6yo, bay gelding
Form: /21411311-1
Verdict: Showed real quality over hurdles last season winning five times, including the Grade Two Supreme Trial at Haydock Park. He had wind surgery over the summer and quickly opened his account for the new season by winning for the first time over fences at Uttoxeter at the start of October. He’s a novice chaser that is going places this season.
3yo, gelding
Form: 1
Verdict: Owned by John Hales, this a newcomer that is well worth keeping an eye on this season. He already has one win to his name in France, and Skelton describes him as “having an edge about him and he could be exciting”.
6yo, bay gelding
Form: 21111-
Verdict: Unbeaten in four runs as a hurdler, including the Grade One Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in April. He’ll embark on a career over fences this season and despite missing the Festival last year, Skelton has admitted that he could visit Prestbury Park this season for something like the Dipper in December.
8yo, bay gelding
Form:/13421524
Verdict: Has always looked like he might have a big race in him, but has so far only managed to win outside of Graded company, with his two victories last season coming in a class three at Perth and a class four at Newcastle. He travelled well enough in the Grand Annual but didn’t quite get home and will need to improve if he wants to peak at the top level this season.
7yo, brown gelding
Form: /12-3
Verdict: A real star in the Skelton camp who could have more to come this season after winning the Desert Orchid last season before being narrowly denied by ½ length in the Champion Chase at the Festival. Skelton has admitted that the Tingle Creek will be an option if the ground is good this season, but if not then Kempton, Cheltenham and Sandown will be his route throughout 2021/22.
10yo, bay gelding
Form: 44U0P-
Verdict: Won the Grade 3 Paddy Power Handicap at Cheltenham in January 2020, but hasn’t won since then and age is starting to creep up on him. He was no better than 4th in any of his five starts last season, and unseated and pulled up in two of his last three. A midfield finish in the Plate at the Festival was okay, but he’ll need more this term.
6yo, chestnut gelding
Form: /2P1151-1
Verdict: A winner of two Jumpers Bumpers at Newcastle at the start of 2021 really kick started his campaign, where he quickly added wins in handicap hurdles at both Cheltenham and Aintree towards the back end of last season after being up to 2m4f. There should be still some room in his mark, and often goes best when fresh.
6yo, bay gelding
Form: /11221-
Verdict: Part owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, this 6yo had a season to remember last term, finishing no lower than 2nd in five starts and winning three times, including an excellent victory in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree, following wind surgery. He’s a big player this season and is expected to start in the Colin Parker at Carlisle before tackling the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
7yo, bay gelding
Form: /111252-
Verdict: Won three times last season but showed his best form over three miles where he won the Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day and the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree. That gives him the chance to go for some big races this season and will reportedly start his campaign in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby before aiming towards the King George back at Kempton.
9yo, bay gelding
Form: /248283-
Verdict: Always seems to save his best for Cheltenham and is regular around there, including a runner-up effort in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last season. That came over fences, but he reverted back to hurdles later in the season, finishing 8th in the Pertemps before being placed in a Grade 3 Handicap Chase at Aintree. He’ll be as consistent as ever this term.
6yo, brown gelding
Form: /1121464-
Verdict: A talented hurdler who is yet to really land a big one, and you get the feeling that there is unfinished business for Dan Skelton with Third Time Lucki, especially when you look back on his 4th in the 2020 Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. He’ll embark on the chaser career this season, with the Henry VIII a likely target at Sandown.
7yo, bay mare
Form: /371113-
Verdict: A smart mare who won three times last season, including a Listed Mares Hurdle at Warwick in February. She’s yet to run at Cheltenham, but would surely have the class to give herself another chance to get there this season.
6yo, bay gelding
Form: /11P110-
Verdict: Won four of his six starts last season, with the best of those victories being a Listed event in February on heavy ground at Exeter. He’ll likely step into open company over hurdles this season at Aintree, before being upped to three miles for the remainder of the campaign.
