DAN Skelton has won 11 Cheltenham Festival races since setting up his own yard in Alcester, Warwickshire, in 2013 and heads to Cheltenham 2026 with fancied contenders in the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup.

“To be in the position that we’re in, with perhaps 30-35 horses going, and the representatives in the marquee races, is what we wanted to do…”

In The New Lion and Grey Dawning, he will have strong contenders for the two big feature races of the week.

Speaking during a media event organised by The Jockey Club this week, he said: “I love competing. I love to run them, and I’m really excited about the whole thing.

“The Gold Cup is the big race of the week, and we’ve got a contender. It’s going to be as competitive a race for that as you’ve ever seen, I think - it’s going to be brilliant.

“In terms of depth, I think you’d all have to agree that this year it is brilliant. You’re going to get a race that’s going to captivate the nation, which it should be. Of course great performances sell the sport, but also great races sell the sport.

“I think this season has been one of the best National Hunt seasons I can remember being involved in, since I’ve been a trainer myself. When you had Kauto Star and Denman, Long Run and Master Minded, Altior and Sprinter Sacre running around, they did it all for us, right? We didn’t need to promote them, they just did it for us.

Fantastic

“But I feel like this year, with the increase in the crowds, especially at the main festivals through the winter, and the interest that people have taken in it, and the horses that day in, day out, just deliver, it has been fantastic.”

Skelton also believes that this year could be Grey Dawning’s best - and potentially only - chance of landing the blue riband race.

“My opinion is that there’s some ahead of us in the betting that we can beat, and there’s some ahead of us in the betting that are going to be harder to beat.

“He is in the form of his life. He has never, ever been better. Next year he gets a year older. This is this horse in the best form you will ever see him. We want a nice clear round, a bit of luck.

“I think you get one go at the Gold Cup really. There are some that are lucky to get more than one go at the Gold Cup. But we’re trying to win one championship race, when we’re at the best point of our life. And I feel like that’s now. If he’d run last year, he wouldn’t have won. I did the right thing not being there.”

He added: “We’ll be taking 30-35 to Cheltenham. That’s the most we’ve ever had, but I think the biggest difference is not numerically, it’s the ones that are going of that number, they’re all worth their place. This is our best Festival team ever - absolutely no doubt.

“It was only so many years ago where England was the poor relation, and we didn’t have these competitors. I’m very proud of the fact that a lot of us trainers responded positively to that, and have pushed on to the point where we are now, and with more to come.

He said: “I think we’ve got all of the bits that we need to go and win a Champion Hurdle, but that’s coming from a man who’s never won one. I’ve obviously never had a better chance, but I feel like all the things he’s got are the required necessities for it.”

Grey Dawning

Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup

“This horse is in the best form of his life. It’s our intention to have had him in this form, and we have been patient to some degree to get him into this form.

“It was fairly obvious last year after Haydock, when he got beat in the very tough ground, that getting him back that year was going to be super hard. So, we took the advice from our experience and from everything else that we had that we weren’t going to be going down the Gold Cup route that year.

“This year, totally different. He was imperious in the Betfair Chase, which on numbers he should have been on that ground. Nice run in the Cotswold Chase, but lots to improve upon from there. Improvement has arrived, we are really ready and he will be there turning in, I have no doubt. Whether he’s good enough from there. I don’t know.

“We probably have more to answer than some of the others, but he loves the course, he’s won at the course, he’s versatile on the ground as long as it’s not heavy. He’s going to improve massively from the Cheltenham run. I just have a good feeling that we’re going there the best we can be.”

Asked about his run in the Betfair Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham when third behind Spillane’s Tower and L’Homme Presse, Skelton went on: “We made a mistake two out, put us on the back foot, we then couldn’t win.

“He stayed on really well from the back of the last, came back in relatively fresh. We were able to put our foot down with him nearly straight away and push now up to the Gold Cup.”

The New Lion

Unibet Champion Hurdle

“I think he’s in great form and he looks magnificent. His season had a rocky start. Obviously, he went to Newcastle and ended up where you don’t want to end up, but I learnt a good bit about him that day.

“I feel like coming into the season, the one thing that was an unanswered question for me was how will he step down in trip? Has he got the speed to deal with two miles? And I felt that he answered that pretty conclusively that day, despite ending up on the floor.

“Then he only enhanced that opinion for me when we ran in the trials on Trials Day. Of course, that was a bit of a non-event. Two horses that on ratings he should have beaten, but I just liked the way he showed all that speed. He was assured with his speed that day. He’s quick-footed. I think he’s in great physical condition.

“I was a bit surprised he was favourite over the summer, because others had achieved more at two miles, but I’m not surprised he’s nearly favourite now. He’s not a fabulous work horse, but he gets to the track and he really gives you everything.”

L’Eau du Sud

Queen Mother Champion Chase

“He’s had a fantastic start to the year. I was blown away by the Shloer (he won the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham’s November Meeting) performance. However, the Shloer performance was probably accentuated by three factors. One, he was very ready. Two, he is brilliant fresh. And three, Jonbon obviously wasn’t cherry ready that day.

“But I’d also think that what you saw at Sandown (when third in the Tingle Creek) is nothing like the reality. He’s a horse that’s very good fresh.

“The mistake I made last year is I shouldn’t have run him at Warwick in the Kingmaker. I should have gone straight to the Arkle. Now that’s not saying that we would have won the Arkle, but we only had sort of two and a half lengths to make up that day.

“It’s all systems go. We had him very ready for the Shloer, and he will be in at least Shloer form for this. Whether that’s good enough or not, we will see.

“There’s a few in the race I think personally we can beat. And there’s a few in the race I think it remains to be seen, but I think we have a lot of ticks in our boxes. Course form is important - he has that and I think he’s a real player.”

Maestro Conti

JCB Triumph Hurdle

“This horse, I feel, is a little more relaxed [than his previous runner Allmankind]. He did show a little bit too much spark possibly on Trials Day and did a little bit too much halfway round. I think he has… I don’t want to call it an exceptional ability, because we haven’t seen enough of him at his age to call him absolutely exceptional. But he has an exceptional ability that he did two very, very different things.

“He went around Kempton on decent ground and showed lots of toe. He went around Cheltenham over an extended two miles on soft ground and also won. It’s a great thing to be able to have, that versatility.

“He’s got course form. His training has been exceptional. I feel like this is one of our best chances of the whole week."

Mydaddypaddy

Skybet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

“I feel like I could have done things a little differently in the build-up to the Formby. And I think you’ll see a better horse than you saw in the Formby. We were always going to go from Aintree to Cheltenham. We’ve not missed anything in between. I think he will put up a career best on the Tuesday. Whether that’s good enough or not, we will find out. He’s got a lot to learn, but I think he’s very high class.”

Kabral Du Mathan

Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle

“We’re going to run as long as the ground is not brutal. Which, looking at the long-range forecast, I would hope that it’s not. We’ve been very cautious with our approach to the springtime with him.

“What I don’t want to do is do something now that I regret a year, two, three down the line by giving him that hard race that he didn’t need at that age. I’m very happy to step him up to three miles because I’m a believer, so is Harry, we’re all believers that three miles is what’s going to suit him. We want to make sure that this horse has the future at that trip, that we can enjoy him for seasons to come.

“You’ve got all those horses in there that stayed three miles, know how to sort of get down and get dirty from the back of two out and really see it out.

And I feel that, with that speed angle, if the ground was just good to soft, I feel like we have a potential asset that maybe the others have less of these days as they’ve gotten older.

“I’ve been absolutely impressed with him since day one in terms of his work and his outlook. I think he looks absolutely outstanding.

“I really think that if we stay three miles, and I think we will, we’ve got a serious player on our hands here.

“He makes up the four for the four main championship races for us, so we’re very proud to have representatives in those races that really do have chances. If he stays, look out.”

Other Festival contenders

Ace Of Spades, Supremely West

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle

Ace Of Spades has had a phenomenal year. He’s really learnt to stay three miles properly. A lot of horses at that distance don’t really know how to race at it correctly.

He’s had to learn the hard way to race over that distance and now races over it very, very well. The better the ground, the better his chance. His handicap mark is as high as it’s ever been, but he’s the best he’s ever been.

Supremely West also runs. I wouldn’t say I’ve had this race in mind for him all season. But I toyed with the idea of whether he didn’t quite stay, so I ran him over two and a half the last day. That was conclusive evidence that he definitely does want three miles.

Boombawn, Riskintheground, Madara

Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase

We plan to run Boombawn, who I think the handicapper has got too high, and Riskintheground, who again I think the handicapper has got too high, and Madara, who I hope he hasn’t! He’s coming at it from a slightly different angle.

Hopefully, he comes at it later being that he’s a fresher horse, less exposed. I was very happy with Kempton the other day. He stayed on very nicely. The track really suits him. He’s obviously got a massive chance.

Bossman Jack, Soldier Reeves

Turners Novices’ Hurdle

I think Bossman Jack is very high class. He obviously doesn’t carry graded form into the race like some others, but he is clearly a very good horse.

I know he’s good. I wouldn’t say he’s a great work horse, but at the same time, he’s not one that you go, ‘oh, jeez, he doesn’t run very good’. I’ve liked what I’ve seen of the track.

The other horse to run in the race is Soldier Reeves. I think he’s been overlooked a little. He was third to Old Park Star at Haydock and was absolutely flying home. I think two and a half will suit him, there are worse each-way horses than him.

Be Aware, Calico

Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase

Be Aware is in great form. We took him to Huntingdon last year for a racecourse gallop before we ran him in the Coral Cup, which was a disaster. So, this year we’ve kept him at home and [taken] him to the grass gallop a few times. He’s really ready.

The Grand Annual is the right race to go for. Hopefully there’s a couple of front runners in the race and we can just sit off them a bit.

The other horse that will run in the Grand Annual is Calico, who is absolutely brilliant, obviously. I am very proud of what he’s achieved this year. He doesn’t get any younger, but his tenacity for racing and his desire to do it is great. We may claim off him in the Grand Annual.

It’s a little bit like those horses that are running in the Plate - he won’t be a short price, but knows how to run in those big races. Those types of horses, although they don’t hide a cent from the handicapper, they know how to run well in those races.

Diamond Street, The Sketcher, Vango Can Go, Mets Ta Ceinture

Weatherbys Champion Bumper

We’re going to run definitely three and maybe four in the Champion Bumper. The fourth one would be Diamond Street. He would only run if the ground was properly soft. He put up a great performance at Doncaster and stayed on really well. I think he’s one of the leading English contenders on performance.

The Sketcher won very well up at Ayr. I feel he’s a little bit like Maestro Conti. His work is improving at home and I don’t think he’s any back number.

Vango Can Go has probably got the best form - third in a listed race at Ascot, behind Bass Hunter, and we want to go left-handed. I think we’re entitled to get a little closer to Bass Hunter, going left-handed, and he is not priced accordingly.

The one that Harry is likely to ride is Mets Ta Ceinture. Obviously, she’s got a big reputation from France. I don’t know if a four-year-old filly has ever won this race, but she gets 17lb towards helping that happen.

She’s won a graded AQPS contest. She looks pretty smart and a nice horse for next season.

Kateira

Cup Handicap Hurdle

Kateira is going to run in The Cup. She’s definitely got a chance. It was a nice run the other day at Ascot. She obviously started the season very well when she won a listed race. Admittedly, her main competitor that day (Golden Ace) was poorly, but she started it well nonetheless.

We’re into a handicap with 11st, not 12. She loves a bit of sun on her back and it’s slowly coming together.

Made U Blush, Tralee Girl, The Mighty Celt & Misterdoc

McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Fred Winter)

I’d love to get the two fillies, Made U Blush and Tralee Girl, in the Fred Winter, but I think we might struggle to get in. The two above there that probably will get in are The Mighty Celt and Misterdoc.

The Mighty Celt ran first time for us at Haydock the other day. He ran really well and had to give away a penalty. A fast-run race would really suit him. Misterdoc got his act together last time and won nicely at Ludlow. He’s got nice French form.

Mille Et Une Vies

Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

Mille Et Une Vies has some very high-class graded form in fillies’ races in Auteuil. She is, to our eye, a very suitable horse for this race. She jumps very well and settles. She obviously is good.

She’s got a mark of 135, which is super high for a juvenile filly, and I think she gets 9lb for being a four-year-old. So, 9 plus 135 is 144. That would be a pretty high mark in this race.

Moneygarrow

Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle

Moneygarrow has the perfect run style for the race. I think historically it’s been won by horses who’ve probably had lots and lots of runs. He doesn’t drop quite into that category, but I do like the way he races. He’ll come home strongly.

Take No Chances

Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle

She was third in the race last year. She is being campaigned to run a better race. She will be more suited by the New Course on the Thursday as, obviously, the Mares’ Hurdle has now changed from Tuesday to Thursday.

Of course, she has to come up against Wodhooh and possibly Lossiemouth and others. But she will ensure that they run an honest race.

Panic Attack

Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase

Panic Attack runs here. Maestro Conti is one of our best chances of the week and she (Panic Attack) is the other one. She’s in unbelievable form.

I don’t know what happened this year. I don’t know why she’s that good. It’s not like she’s drinking different water or something. But she is an absolute credit to herself.

She loves racing. I wouldn’t mind betting that the listed race at Newbury was her best run. Even though she had a fairly straightforward job - the way she did it, the feel she gave Harry. Her form at home has been phenomenal. She looks great. Whatever beats her wins. She is absolutely flying.

Tellherthename, Sinnatra

William Hill County Hurdle

Tellherthename will be having his first run for us. He’s a very high-class horse and his work is as good as you can get a horse to work. I know he’s come with a catalogue of back issues, but we’ve worked hard to iron those out. Whether we have or we haven’t will be evident on the Friday.

We’ve asked him plenty at home. We took him for a racecourse gallop and he went nicely. Like I say, we won’t know that final bit until we run. But I can assure you, underneath there is a very, very good horse.

Sinnatra also runs. He got beat Huntingdon in a listed race over two and a half. It’s behind that. We were a bit frustrated with him that day. He didn’t appear to be concentrating. There’s a lot to come with this horse. I think when he engages, he’ll be better. He remains off the same mark and I think off that mark, it is very much not beyond him. We just may be dealing with a child in a grown-up’s race. But there will be a day when it all drops in. There will be no finer time for that than in the County Hurdle.

A Pai De Nom, Nurse Susan

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

A Pai De Nom I think is favourite for the Martin Pipe. He’s had a great year and we’ve run him regularly. He thrives off racing. He comes here off the back of his best-ever run. The track will really suit him.

I’m super happy with him and there’s not a lot not to like. I feel like there’s a bit of room in his mark.

And then we have Nurse Susan. She did run badly the other day, but I think maybe she was in season. She came into that race in the best form she’s ever been in. And I think just to say that we write her off now is inappropriate. I think she will run a very big race in either that or the Mares’. She might even get confirmed for The Cup.