Lodge Hill-based trained Dan Skelton is the first trainer this season to pass the £1 million prize money barrier. It means he retains a healthy lead at the top of the 2024/25 Trainers’ Championship standings ahead of Paul Nicholls and Olly Murphy respectively.
Skelton is bidding for his first Trainers’ Championship title this season, and if he continues in the same form in the second half of the campaign, he will have an excellent chance of going one place better than last year.
Boombawn lands Grade II Novices chase
With over £1 million to his name already in the standings, Skelton is now odds-on at 8/11 in the Paddy Power horse racing market for the Trainers’ Championship. One of the horses that has helped him to get to that position is Boombawn. He won a Grade Two novices chase at Wincanton back in November.
After producing an excellent performance in the race at Wincanton, Boombawn is likely to be a chaser tipped for success this season in the horse racing predictions. He beat a strong field at the Somerset venue, showcasing his impressive jumping in the 2m4f contest.
The Turners Novices’ Chase may be a race Skelton targets with his Grade Two winner. He won the same race at the Cheltenham Festival last season with Grey Dawning, as reported by the BBC.
L’Eau du Sud has stepped up from Stratford success
Talented hurdler L’Eau du Sud made his debut over fences at Stratford back in the summer where he made a big impression. The six-year-old prevailed by 10 lengths after leading from start to finish in the 2m3f contest.
Skelton opted to step his novice chaser in class for his second start of the season. He won the Grade Two Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices Chase at Cheltenham’s November Meeting. The hot prospect is likely to return to Cheltenham for the Festival in March where the Arkle Trophy will be his target.
The former French raider finished second in the County Handicap Hurdle at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. With a 100% record over fences, he has made an impressive start to his chasing career.
Grey Dawning set to contend Gold Cup
If Skelton is to win the Trainers’ Championship this season, he may need to do well in the lucrative races at the back end of the campaign, including the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. Grey Dawning represents his best chance of winning the Cheltenham Festival feature this year.
Skelton has big hopes for Grey Dawning this season. He was delighted with his horse’s performance in the Lancashire Chase at Haydock where he finished second behind Royale Pagaille.
Grey Dawning will have at least one more run before the Cheltenham Festival. He has an entry in the King George VI Chase. The Cotswold Chase on Trials Days at Cheltenham will also be an option for him. Both of those races offer big prize money, so Skelton will be keen to see his horse land the top prize in at least one of them.
Expect to see many of Skelton’s horses back at Stratford when racing returns in March for the opening fixture of 2025.
