By Sean Trivass
In what has become part two of my stable tours before the Cheltenham Festival, I got up at stupid o’clock on Friday morning for the long drive to Dan Skelton’s stable to listen to his views on some of his Cheltenham runners – happy days.
When I arrived bright and too early (you can never be too early but you can be too late), I wandered up to the yard only to be asked ever so nicely to sign a consent form – turns out they were filming part of Season Two of Champions and we may be in it (I’m the one in the blue and red hat though I doubt it starts a Hollywood career).
After we had set up with our cameras Dan Skelton parade some of his Cheltenham fancies, taking us through their chances with sound reasoning.
Before we talk horses, I do have to add that he was eloquent, outgoing, open and honest with the media – not the only one I accept, but it was a very enjoyable morning, his head is clearly screwed on with ono airs and graces and I wish him all the best for the future- 100% the Champion trainer in waiting.
Protektorat
It may be me but I always take note of the first horse a trainer wants to show us in the (naïve) assumption that he has a good reason.
The ten-year-old arrives at the top of his game after winning the valuable Fleur De Lys Chase at Windsor by 23 lengths in January, and he heads to the Ryanair Chase with every chance according to his handler.
Describing the gelding with “his resolution and his desire are absolutely top quality” he was understandably wary of the opposition with French raider Il Est Francais namechecked, but his horse has seen a changed training regime that meant a slow start to the season as he looks to peak for Cheltenham.
The New Lion
No great surprise to anyone that he was nominated as Dan’s best chance at the meeting, though I suspect he will not be the only one.
Unbeaten after four career starts, he did look a picture to me and to his trainer, who appeared justifiably proud. Dan then told us “I love him. I love everything about him. I love his attitude, I love the trainability about him.
“You ask Harry – he loves the way he is to ride and if you want go inside you can go inside, if you want to go outside you can go outside, if you want to go a bit quicker you can go a bit quicker and if you want to go a bit slower then he does that as well. He can do it all.
Those good horses have that big day attitude and big day mentality.”
The impression I got was that there is plenty more to come from the Kayf Tara gelding who only really does what is needed to win albeit doing so with aplomb, and if he gets to the Turners Novices Hurdle in one-piece, there will need to be something special to beat him.
L’Eau De Sud
Wheeled out in front of us before The New Lion, if I was reading his body language correctly Dan really likes this one!
Unbeaten over fences after four starts and always expected to be better once sent chasing, he has won when conditions were completely against him at Sandown in the Henry VIII Chase in which is always a positive sign and although his trainer is wary of hot favourite Majborough, he thinks he is in with a decent chance.
Telling us “He has gone chasing this year and hasn’t looked back. He has course form and if it’s soft ground he can get away with it but if it’s better it will suit him better.
He can drop in or make the running – he’s very versatile and has got those extra runs. There is nothing I don’t like about his chances for this race” you would have to be thinking he is likely to run a very big race.
Catch Him Derry
With so many other horses discussed albeit it briefly, I struggled a little to find one to complete our Lucky 15, but at better odds I have come down on the side of the seven-year-old ahead of the Pertemps Final.
He won a qualifier at Exeter by close to three lengths so gets in to race regardless, and the implication I got was that he may not have been totally wound up that day so I am hoping there could be a few pounds to come.
Relatively lightly raced for a seven-year-old with only 10 career starts and four victories, at a double figure price he could give us all a good run for our money, and a win is far from impossible, with soft ground an added bonus.
READ MORE: Cheltenham Festival 2025 focus – Ryanair Chase & Arkle Challenge Trophy
Dan Skelton Lucky 15
L’Eau De Sud – Arkle Trophy Tuesday 11th March 9/2
The New Lion – Turners Novices’ Hurdle Wednesday 12th March 3/1
Protektorat – Ryanair Chase Thursday 13th March 7/1
Catch Him Derry – Pertemps Final Thursday 13th March 16/1
