Warwickshire-based trainer Dan Skelton has one of the strongest stables in the UK going into the 2024/25 National Hunt campaign. He is set to target some of the biggest races in the sport this season, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.
The Lodge Hill handler, who often sends many of his horses to Warwick in the early stages of the campaign, should have runners in the majority of the early Grade One races in the UK in late 2024.
Big Hopes Rest on Grey Dawning
Such is the strength and depth of Skelton’s yard, there isn’t just one flagbearer this season. However, after an impressive novice chasing campaign, a lot is going to be expected from Grey Dawning this year. He is 14/1 in the horse race odds for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Grey Dawning is likely to feature in the horse racing tips for the Lancashire Chase and King George VI Chase in the early stages of the season. Those races will allow him to challenge himself against the best 3m chasers in the UK and Ireland.
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
Skelton’s talented chaser won the Turners’ Novices Chase at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. With just six appearances so far over fences, his trainer will be hoping his best is still to come on the track.
Experienced Protektorat Set to Return at Highest Level
One of the most successful horses from Skelton’s yard in recent years has been Protektorat. He is just shy of £500,000 in career prize money now. His biggest triumph last season came in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
⚽️ Fergie time again at Cheltenham!
Four-timer for team Skelton as Protektorat wins the G1 @Ryanair Chase pic.twitter.com/YrktqtpiWv
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 14, 2024
The versatile chaser has scored over distances between 2m and 3m 1f. In 2022, he won the Grade One Lancashire Chase at Haydock. That race is likely to be considered by Skelton once again with his experienced operator. Cue Card was the last horse to regain his crown in the prestigious race in November.
Skelton will decide on Protektorat’s Cheltenham Festival target as late as possible this season. He could be entered in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, Ryanair Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup, and he would be expected to be competitive in either of those Championship races.
Impressive Form Over the Summer
Skelton has had a lot of success over the summer, which will give him a lot of encouragement going into the autumn period in the campaign. Riskintheground has picked up the most prize money with four victories from six starts. His latest triumph came at Bangor in a handicap chase.
Beat Box is another horse who has racked up four wins during the summer period. The fourth of those victories came at Warwick in a handicap chase for novices. He beat four other rivals in a hot contest. The eight-year-old now has an official rating of 115, so he could be set for graded action next.
The victories for the above two horses have helped Skelton get off to a fast start in the British National Hunt Trainers’ Championship. That trophy is likely to be decided at the big meetings this season, particularly the Cheltenham Festival and Grand National Meeting.
Skelton will be hoping his horses can shine in the big races this year, which could help him have his best year yet in the sport.
