Nick Townsend finds the brilliant young trainer thrilled by Protektorat

Sometimes a horse produces a jumping exhibition so laden with promise it cannot fail to stir the soul of observers and fuel a sense of heady anticipation for its owner.
Just the four runners contested the 2m 4f novice chase at Cheltenham’s November meeting, though all were quality performers. But it was Dan Skelton’s foot-perfect Protektorat who flowed over his obstacles to prevail by 17 lengths and brighten a gloomy afternoon in the Cotswolds.
It was a superb jumping exhibition that had part-owner John...