Juggernauts won’t scare the Skeltons at the Festival
Now that Gordon Elliott has been punished by way of a one-year ban (with six months suspended) for bringing racing into disrepute over THAT picture, the spotlight in the lead-up to Cheltenham can shine on the horses.
One trainer delighted to welcome that glare of publicity is Dan Skelton.
The trainer’s jockey brother, Harry, insists Team Skelton approach mighty challenges much more in expectation than hope nowadays.
Such is the pressure the siblings put themselves under, they’ve no interest endorsing underdog status against juggernaut training operations.
They decided to prioritise quality over quantity a couple of years ago to try to rival Elliott and Willie Mullins at the big festivals, and to close the trainers championship gap on Dan’s ex-boss, Paul Nicholls, and Nicky Henderson.
The result is Skelton sitting behind Nicholls, but ahead of Henderson, in the prize money table, and boasting a clutch of class acts to go to war with.
For one of the Festival’s early highlights, the Arkle Chase, the Skeltons go with bold front-runner, Allmankind, who completed a hat-trick of victories for the campaign in the Kingmaker at Warwick.
Henderson runs last year’s Supreme Novices’ hero, Shishkin, at odds-on.
And last month’s Dublin Racing Festival was the stage for Willie Mullins’ Energumene to produce a 10-length destruction of the best Irish chances, teeing up as tasty a UK v Ireland clash as any on the week.
The Skeltons fully intend for 15/2 shot, Allmankind, to muscle in on that top billing, with the exuberant rhythm the five-year-old brings ensuring the race has an edge-of-yourseat quality.
Harry said: “Allmankind is a remarkable horse. He’s come off the flat, won a Grade 1 over hurdles, and won a Grade 1 over fences on his second start.
“He’s a freak, really. He’s done really well and nothing wrong to date.
“Obviously, Shishkin and Energumene look good. You can be worried! But there’s nothing you can do about it. We’ll be there to, hopefully, take them on.”
A similar story is unfolding in the senior two-mile heat, albeit Nube Negra already owns a big-name scalp.
The Spanish-bred defeated Altior in the Desert Orchid Chase over Christmas, causing a 20/1 shock.
Going well fresh appears the key, so he’s since been absent to enhance his Queen Mother Champion Chase hopes.
Altior, winner in 2018 and 2019, renews rivalry, but the main problem for British contenders is Chacun Pour Soi.
Another flawless Willie Mullins performer at Leopardstown, the Rich Ricci-owned machine is 4/6 to collect, with Altior 7/1 and Nube Negra at 8/1.
Skelton, who won last year on Politologue, said: “We didn’t expect what Nube Negra did at Kempton, but we always knew he was good.
“As a big horse, he was never going to be a juvenile. Now he’s a lot stronger.”
Skelton’s 2019 Mares Hurdle heroine Roksana could try to regain her crown or go instead for the Stayers Hurdle to tackle Paisley Park and Thyme Hill.