THE four-day Cheltenham Festival comes at a bad time for show jumping riders but one determined not to miss the fixture was British Olympic squad member Nick Skelton, who had been competing at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida.

Team gold medal winner with Big Star at London 2012, Skelton was absolutely delighted when his sons, trainer Dan and jockey Harry, having hit the crossbar earlier in the week, combined to land Friday’s Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) with Superb Story, a first Festival success for the pair.

“I’m so delighted for them, they work really hard,” said the proud father, who was visibly moved by the family win.

“Harry’s been saying for two weeks this horse would win. Everything worked out. I thought he’d committed too early, but he knew what he had underneath.”

Roughly 24 hours earlier, Dan and Harry finished fourth in the Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) with Al Ferof who runs in the colours of well-known show jumping owner, John Hales.