Leading British trainer Dan Skelton narrowly missed out on a first Trainers’ Championship title in 2025, as he had to settle for the runner-up spot behind Willie Mullins, despite leading for most of the campaign.
Mullins had a lot of success at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Ryanair Chase, Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and Champion Bumper. The Irishman then sealed a second consecutive crown, winning the Grand National with Nick Rockett and the Scottish Grand National with Captain Cody.
Skelton Off to A Fast Start to New Season
The 2025/26 British Trainers’ Championship is now underway, and after a good start to the campaign, Skelton is the 5/4 favourite in the racing odds to go one place better this season.
With a strong stable of horses, Skelton is likely to be one of the leading horse racing tips for the Trainers’ Championship title this season. He has already reached over £140,000 in prize money from the opening two months of the campaign.
Skelton will have lots of runners at Warwick and Stratford throughout the summer. Those two racecourses are local to his Lodge Hill Stables. He will aim to build a strong lead in the standings before Mullins and his other rivals enter their best horses for the key races during the autumn months.
The New Lion Has Champion Hurdle Hopes
This season’s Champion Hurdle is a race Skelton will have his eyes on with his unbeaten hurdler, The New Lion. His six-year-old gelding is one of the most exciting hurdlers in the UK and Ireland.
The Big Three raced all the way!
But it’s The New Lion who reigns supreme in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle 🟡🟢#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/TF6Fs2A88M
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 12, 2025
The New Lion won two Group One races last season for Skelton. He prevailed in the Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury. Then during the Cheltenham Festival, he beat a strong field in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle.
Next season’s Champion Hurdle has the makings of being one of the best renewals in recent years. The New Lion will take on the likes of Lossiemouth, State Man and former winner Constitution Hill. Skelton’s hurdler is at the top end of the betting for the race along with those more experienced horses.
Talented Chasers Will Be in The Mix in All the Big Races
Skelton is fortunate to have some of the highest-rated chasers in the UK. Protektorat, a three-time Grade One winner, landed just short of £100,000 for his trainer back in January when he won the Fleur De Lys Chase at Windsor. His first run of the campaign may come in the Lancashire Chase at Haydock in November.
The stunning grey GREY DAWNING wins the Turners Novices Chase for a Festival TREBLE for Harry & Dan Skelton!
A British trained 1-2-3… 🤯 pic.twitter.com/qGI7HzudX7
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 14, 2024
Grey Dawning has been seen as a possible Cheltenham Gold Cup contender ever since he won the Turners Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2024. Skelton opted to bypass the blue riband event in the sport last March. With more experience over fences now on his side, he should tackle the feature race of the week in 2026.
Skelton has been runner-up in the Trainers’ Championship in each of the last two seasons. He will be hoping he finally gets his hands on the trophy when the British Jumps campaign ends in April 2026.
