Dan Skelton believes this year’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup will be one of the most competitive renewals in the race’s history and will “captivate the nation”.

The trainer has won 11 Cheltenham Festival races since setting up his own yard in Alcester, Warwickshire, in 2013 and in Grey Dawning will have one of the strongest contenders for the feature race of the week.

And Skelton believes that with Jump racing currently enjoying one of its best seasons in recent history, the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup can help “sell the sport”.

Speaking during a media event organised by The Jockey Club today, he said: “I love the sport we're in. 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. You don't need to break the track record to have had a great race.

“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 Masterminded, 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.

Festival week

“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. So it's great to be a part of it - Festival week is the one that attracts more attention than any other. And I think it's a real good reason, especially this year…

“The opposition will be brilliant. That's the great thing about our sport, and especially that week, is that they all come together and we get to see all the stars together. If you're running in a Gold Cup, you're exceptional.

“I think there's a lot of them in there that can win. 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.”

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

He went on: “He is in the form of his life. He has never, ever been better. He probably will never be 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. Where he finishes, he finishes.

“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. And this is our best chance. If he'd run last year, he wouldn't have won. He just wouldn't. I did the right thing not being there.”

Big team

Skelton is likely to field the biggest team he has ever taken to the Cotswolds in a fortnight and believes “they all have a chance”.

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.

“I'm happy with them all. Some races we've got a couple of runners in, but I think those horses should all be there. I'm running them because I think they've all got a chance to run well and possibly win. This is our best Festival team ever - absolutely no doubt.

“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…

“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.

“With all of these horses and others, we're proud to take them there. We've got them in the best shape they can be. However they run, unless we get unlucky, we will be proud of their performances because we know they're there doing what they can and in the best shape they can be.”

No fears

Skelton also has no fears about taking on Constitution Hill, should he run in the Unibet Champion Hurdle, with The New Lion.

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.

“I'll gladly take on Constitution Hill. He's a competitor - we'll take him on. The form book says that out of his last four starts over hurdles he's been on the floor three times and disappointed the other.

“Yeah, he went very fast round Southwell the other day but The New Lion would have won around Southwell the other day. So, you know, opinions, opinions. I'm sticking with my horse, nothing will persuade me otherwise."