Local trainer Dan Skelton goes into this year’s Cheltenham Festival meeting with his strongest team yet for the biggest week of the season in the sport. However, it is not going to include his talented chaser, Grey Dawning.
Last season’s Turners Novices’ Chase winner had been entered for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but Skelton is opting against that race now in favour of the Grand National Meeting at Aintree. He is likely to run in the Aintree Bowl Chase at the meeting in Merseyside.
Galopin Des Champs One of Strong 15 Entries for Gold Cup
𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐇 𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐂𝐔𝐏𝐒, 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀 𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐒𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐒! 🏆🏆🏆
Galopin Des Champs wins the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup Chase!#ITVRacing | @LeopardstownRC | @PTownend | @WillieMullinsNH pic.twitter.com/AuEeAT3xJ7
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) February 1, 2025
The defending champion Galopin Des Champs is one of the 15 runners entered for this year’s Gold Cup. After winning the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown, he is now 1/2 in the Cheltenham Festival odds to complete his hat-trick in the feature race at Cheltenham.
Rather than take on Galopin Des Champs, Grey Dawning will feature at Kelso in the Premier Chase before the Festival. He is 8/13 in the bet on horse racing market for the contest in Scotland. He will then have just over a month off before he appears again in the Aintree Bowl.
Grey Dawning is bidding for his first success since he won at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival meeting. He was second in the Lancashire Chase at Haydock, while last time out in the King George at Kempton, he was pulled up by his rider in what was a below-par performance. The latter may have influenced Skelton’s route for the rest of the campaign.
The New Lion Arguably Skelton’s Best Chance of a Cheltenham Winner
The pick of Skelton’s novices this season has been The New Lion, who will line up in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle. The six-year-old is unbeaten in four starts in his career. Three of those wins have come over hurdles, including the Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury.
Flawless record intact! The New Lion remains unbeaten with ease at @NewburyRacing for @harryskelton89 and @DSkeltonRacing… pic.twitter.com/fYd0prh516
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 30, 2024
Skelton has spoken very highly about The New Lion, stating he is the best horse he has had at this stage of their career. The Grade One winner will take on a strong field at the Cheltenham Festival that will include Irish raider Final Demand.
The Lodge Hill trainer, who has picked up over £2 million in prize money this season, will also saddle L’Eau Du Sud in one of the leading novice races during the Festival. The first-season chaser is entered in the Arkle Trophy on day one of the meeting. His latest win came in the Grade Two Kingmaker Novices’ Chase at Warwick when he justified going off as the warm favourite for the 2m contest at the Midlands-based track.
Langer Dan Back for More Festival Success
Staying hurdler Langer Dan is Skelton’s most successful Cheltenham Festival horse. He has been victorious at the last two meetings, with victories coming in prestigious handicap contests. The nine-year-old is set to step up in class this year and feature in the Stayers’ Hurdle, one of the big championship races across the week.
Skelton’s hurdler has been beaten on all three of his appearances this season, but that is unlikely to concern the Trainers’ Championship leader, as Langer Dan has shown throughout his career, he often produces his best performance in the final couple of months of the season.
A big week at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival can help Skelton secure a maiden Trainers’ Championship title this season, so there is a lot at stake for the Midlands man at the meeting.
Article written and submitted by Ben Spencer.
