‘Privilege’ to be title favourite – but Skelton preparing for tough battle ahead

Double at start of new Cheltenham season boosts early advantage.

A double on the opening day of Cheltenham’s new season sparked title talk from Dan Skelton – but he is again well aware of how tough it will be to claim the crown for the first time.

Skelton was agonisingly caught last spring after an onslaught from Willie Mullins who dominated at the Cheltenham Festival, won the Grand National with I Am Maximus and claimed the Scottish version in dramatic fashion with Macdermott by a nose.

That left Skelton with too much to do at the season-ending Sandown meeting, but he has made a flying start to this campaign with already well over GBP 500,000 banked and boosted at Prestbury Park on Friday by another GBP 80,000 thanks to Calico and Valgrand.

Skelton said: “I think the team is in good shape. Three weeks ago they were needing a run a bit and I’ve been surprised how much work we’ve had to give them.

Valgrand was seriously impressive
Valgrand was seriously impressive (David Davies/PA)

“Last year we did have a very steady start and built into the season and obviously what happened happened, but ultimately you can’t fake quality. You can prime an average horse for a big day and you can prime a good horse for a very big day, but the more depth in quality you have the more you can aim at the big races and have the big days. We’re getting more of those horses as a team, I believe.

“It’s a privilege to be in that position (favourite for the title), but take away the theory, the actual reality is it’s going to be very hard. It’ll be six months of hard work from us and if Willie turns up in month five and does what he can sometimes do, then month six is going to be a real battle!

“It’s going to be a real battle for of all us – me, Paul (Nicholls), Nicky (Henderson) and if anyone else gets involved then good luck to them as well.

“Five or six years ago we were talking about the Irish coming over all the time, but I think we’ve come to recognise it’s kind of part and parcel of it now. It doesn’t need talking about so much because it’s kind of how it is.”

Ryanair winner Protektorat misses his intended reappearance at Aintree this weekend
Ryanair winner Protektorat misses his intended reappearance at Aintree this weekend (David Davies/PA)

Skelton enjoyed two Grade One winners at the Festival in March, and had hoped to unleash one of them, Protektorat, at Aintree this weekend, but opted against that due to ground conditions. His other winner at the showpiece meeting, Grey Dawning, could run in either Wetherby’s Charlie Hall Chase next Saturday or at Carlisle a day later.

On Protektorat, Skelton said: “The ground is just too good (at Aintree). I’m not knocking their ground, they’ve done a lovely job, but he wants genuine good to soft at least so we’ll just have to wait with him.

“God knows where we’ll go, I’ve no idea. I’d love to stick to two-and-a-half (miles) if we can, so we’ll see.

“There’s no massive rush, I’d love to get them all out but the ground needs to be right.”

“As for Grey Dawning, again it’s ground that’s a concern. If he doesn’t go to Wetherby he’ll go to Carlisle the day after for the Colin Parker, which is a good race and I’ve a few for that meeting.

“We’re not afraid to go up there.”

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