Heading into the home straight of the 2024/25 National Hunt campaign, Dan Skelton finds himself on the brink of a first British Trainers’ Championship. Having finished runner-up to Willie Mullins in 2023/24, the Warwickshire handler is an overwhelming favourite to go one better.
Whilst there are several big pots still to be won, none more so than the £1 million Grand National, Skelton is in an enviable position atop the table: over £770,000 clear of former boss Paul Nicholls and £1.3 million ahead of defending champ Mullins, it would take a fairly remarkable turn of events to see Skelton denied now.
All Eyes on Aintree
With the finish line in sight, Skelton will leave no stone unturned over the closing weeks. As such, it is no surprise to learn that the pacesetter will send a strong team to the Aintree Grand National meeting in his effort to seal the deal.
A Grand National win for Nicholls, Mullins, or Henderson could put the cat amongst the pigeons, but there is little Skelton can do about that. However, he can ensure he keeps the prize money ticking over in the other contests at the meeting.
Looking at the prospective 20-strong Sketon team en route to Merseyside, there looks to be every chance he will do just that, with the following five contenders, in particular, catching the eye.
Grey Dawning – Aintree Bowl
Having headed into the season as the yard’s great Gold Cup hope, the campaign hasn’t gone as well as anticipated for Grey Dawning. However, despite skipping the Cheltenham showpiece, he hasn’t done much wrong in three outings this term.
Whilst only second to Royal Pagaille in the Betfair Chase, that Venetia Williams runner is incredibly tough to beat around Haydock on soft ground. His effort in the King George was then a non-event following a terrible blunder at the first obstacle. Dropped to Listed level at Kelso last time, he bounced right back to form to see off leading Grand National fancy Iroko. Without a tough Gold Cup outing in his legs, the 2024 Turners’ Novices’ Chase winner could be the one to beat in the big Grade 1 on the opening day.
Gwennie May Boy – The Ivy Liverpool Hurdle
Arriving at the Skelton yard in February 2024, Gwennie May Boy immediately found his feat, with three wins in as many outings seeing his rating shoot up from 113 to 137. The last of those victories came when storming to success by more than seven lengths in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle at this meeting. He has been a little slower to come to hand this season but rediscovered his form to claim the Grade 2 Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock in style. Given a break since that February event, he will arrive fresher than many and looks set to go well at a track he likes.
L’Eau du Sud – Rosconn Group Maghull Novices’ Chase
Following a rock-solid season over hurdles, L’Eau du Sud has developed to become one of the leading two-mile novice chasers in Britain. Kicking off 2024/25 with four successive wins, including the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown, he was last sighted fourth in the Arkle Chase. Only tiring close home that day, he should find the easier Aintree track more to his liking, and the three to finish ahead of him at Cheltenham are expected to head elsewhere.
Listentoyourheart – William Hill Handicap Hurdle
Skelton is a trainer to look out for in the handicap contests at this meeting, and this Getaway mare boasts an appealing profile for this Day 2 event. A solid fifth in the Bumper at this fixture in 2024, she rattled off a hattrick on her first three starts over hurdles, including a Listed win at Newbury. The Grade 2 Premier Novices’ Hurdle at Kelso was a step too far last time, but dropping back into handicap company, she looks fairly treated off 127.
Live Conti – Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle
If Lulamba and East India Dock show up, this big event for the youngsters is shaping up to be a hot race. However, Skelton will have high hopes of conquering the second and third from the Triumph Hurdle with this unbeaten son of Cokoriko. Deliberately kept back for Aintree rather than heading to Cheltenham, he scored impressively on his British debut at Wetherby and looks like a horse with a very bright future.
