Protektorat takes flight as the Skeltons win again in the Ryanair Chase
Protektorat proved dropping back in trip was no issue when producing a brilliant display to claim the Ryanair Chase for the red-hot Dan Skelton team at the Cheltenham Festival.
"Mum had a massive problem with drink and it was hugely destructive. It was tough as kids because we spotted it and banged the drum and no one believed us. She wasn't a bad person and tried her best, she just had a problem. In the end it was what got her" Dan Skelton told dailymail.co.uk.
"After a year with Mr Hannon, I got a bit heavier and he thought the best thing I could do was go to Mr Nicholls and see how I got on" Skelton told standard.co.uk.
Although hardly prolific in his early career, Skelton did strike up a good connection with the Bob Buckler trained Niche Market. The pair won the BGC Silver Cup chase at Ascot in December 2008 and then went on to take the 2009 Irish Grand National.
Skelton produced 33/1 outsider Niche Market to win by two lengths from Church Island to become the youngest ever winning jockey in the Fairyhouse event.
Harry Skelton consults with his brother and Dan, during day two of the Showcase at Cheltenham Racecourse
"Obviously Harry is family and someone who, it goes without saying, I trust implicitly. At this early stage he is going to be integral to a lot of areas of the business" Dan Skelton told theguardian.com.
"Harry said when I won the gold medal was the proudest day of his life but for me when they won there [Cheltenham] that was the proudest day of my life," an overjoyed Nick Skelton told horseandhound.co.uk of his sons' achievement.
He married fellow jumps jockey Bridget Andrews in 2019. "When racing is off and we have a free day, we do like to try and get away. We have two whippets and we take them off to Broadway Tower normally and go for a walk" Skelton told thesun.co.uk of his down time with Andrews.
Protektorat proved dropping back in trip was no issue when producing a brilliant display to claim the Ryanair Chase for the red-hot Dan Skelton team at the Cheltenham Festival.
Grey Dawning continued Dan Skelton’s fabulous Cheltenham Festival with a brilliant victory in the Turners Novices’ Chase.
Langer Dan retained his title for Dan and Harry Skelton in the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, which was only the second winner for a British trainer out of a possible 10.
While most eyes are already turning towards the Cheltenham Festival, Monday’s card at Taunton looks decent enough to serve as a perfect warm-up act for the main events later in the week.
The Cheltenham Festival is racing’s Olympics, but fortunately we don’t have to wait four years for it. Planet Sport delivers our guide to the big races, trainers, jockeys and more in 2024.
Over the jumps at Lingfield on Tuesday, February 13 and the Planet Sport tipsters are setting their sights on taking down some bookies.
On a relatively quiet Monday of National Hunt racing, Tipstrr pundit Steve Jones has seen something he likes in this handicap hurdle at Carlisle.