Tag Archive for: Cheltenham Festival

You Wear It Well the latest flying the flag for red-hot Challow form

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You Wear It Well will hunt for a first Graded-race victory in the Weatherbys-sponsored Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown on Thursday.

The Jamie Snowden-trained six-year-old, who has good bumper form to her name, was last seen finishing second to Hermes Allen in the Grade One Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury in late December.

Prior to that she was the winner of two novice hurdles in the autumn, making a successful debut over obstacles with a seven-length success at Worcester and then trouncing nine rivals to triumph by 22 lengths at Hexham.

Since Newbury her stock has risen due to the resulting form of the race, with four Challow contenders going on to the win on their next start.

Among them is Snowden’s own Passing Well, fourth in the race and a good winner at Newcastle since, and Fergal O’Brien’s subsequent Sidney Banks victor Marble Sands.

Snowden reports his mare to be in good form ahead of her next target, a Grade Two event which will pave the way to one of a handful of Cheltenham Festival options over varying trips.

He said: “She’s in great order. She’s been pretty progressive all the way through the season, winning her two novice hurdles.

“She ran a cracker when stepped up in trip when second behind Hermes Allen in the Challow at Newbury.

“This looked the obvious step for her, going forward, and she’s in a couple of races at the Festival but we’ll cross this bridge first and see how we go.

“She’s not devoid of speed, but equally there is a lot of stamina in the pedigree so hopefully she’s one of those horses that can be equally effective over any trip.”

Of the Challow form boost he added: “The race has worked out really well, we had the fourth horse, Passing Well, and he’s won since, so has the fifth-placed horse (Marble Sands). ”

Elsewhere in the race there is a sole Irish entrant in Gordon Elliott’s Deeply Superficial, who will be ridden by Davy Russell.

Dan Skelton is set to saddle both She’s A Saint and Vicki Vale, with Touchy Feely, Nicky Henderson’s two-time winning hurdler, completing the field of five.

De Boinville fully aware of State Man’s threat to Constitution Hill

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Nico de Boinville has full respect for his Unibet Champion Hurdle rivals, despite his mount Constitution Hill being set to go off one of the shortest-priced favourites of the whole week at the Cheltenham Festival.

A brilliant winner of the Supreme last March, Nicky Henderson’s new superstar has won the Fighting Fifth and Christmas Hurdles with ease this season.

And although dual Champion Hurdler Honeysuckle has been rerouted to the Mares’ Hurdle, the main threat will still come from Ireland in the shape of Willie Mullins’ State Man, unbeaten for new connections since falling on his Irish debut.

“So far, so good with him, as with all of them we are slowly bringing them to the boil. It’s an exciting time of year to be involved with a yard like Seven Barrows,” De Boinville told talkSPORT2.

Trainer Nicky Henderson and Constitution Hill this week
Trainer Nicky Henderson and Constitution Hill this week (David Davies/PA)

“He’s honestly the most straightforward horse you could ever deal with, he’s got it all really. He’s so professional, he’s got a very good brain, so as a rider it’s a pleasure every time you ride him.”

De Boinville has partnered the likes of Gold Cup winner Coneygree, Altior and the magnificent Sprinter Sacre in his career, with Constitution Hill ranking firmly in their company.

“I never like to compare horses as they all have their own fantastic way of going about things, but he’s bang up there. He’s certainly the best hurdler I’ve ridden as all the exceptional horses I’ve ridden were good chasers. It’s fantastic to be going to a race like the Champion Hurdle with a really good chance,” he said.

“Anything can happen in a two-mile championship race. State Man has come through all his runs and was very impressive last time out. You can never take anything for granted and you have to respect the opposition

“I think one of the biggest changes is that Honeysuckle’s form has maybe slightly dipped and we’re not going to get the clash that was built up at the end of last season, but in State Man we’ve got a truly good rival. Hopefully it should kick off the Tuesday and get the Festival really under way.”

Favour And Fortune will be given Champion Bumper option

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Alan King will take a patient approach with Favour And Fortune, who remained unbeaten after taking a Warwick bumper with ease on Saturday.

The five-year-old Soldier Of Fortune gelding followed up his impressive Southwell debut success with a seven-and-a-half-length defeat of Alright Dai and could potentially head to the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.

Running in the colours of the late Trevor Hemmings, he looked a smart performer under Tom Bellamy and King will consider him for the big National Hunt Flat race on March 15.

“Favour and Fortune will have an entry at Cheltenham and if he didn’t go there, he’d go to Aintree,” said King.

“He is a horse we like a lot. He ran well at Warwick. He is festival bound, but we don’t know where. We will definitely put him in the Champion Bumper.”

Meanwhile, Messire Des Obeaux, who rolled back the years when also scoring at Warwick in a two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase on the same card, has taken his race well.

The 11-year-old, making his first start for 385 days, had a neck to spare over Knight In Dubai, staying on strongly in the closing stages.

King will be in no rush with him, however. He said: “Messire Des Obeaux will tell me when he’s ready.

“He always takes a wee bit of time to get over a run, so I will just see what there is. Obviously, he needs the weather to change as well. The ground has gone for the minute.

“It was a nice race to win the other day, so there is no panic. Even in his younger days, he always took a few weeks to get over his runs. He puts a lot into it.”

Speaking at Hereford on Wednesday afternoon, King reported Arkle Trophy winner Edwardstone has recovered from a minor setback and is still well on course for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, for which he remains Coral’s 13-8 joint-favourite with Energumene for the March 15 Cheltenham feature.

“Edwardstone is all good,” said King. “He will go back into strong work next week.”

Edwardstone, winner of six of his 11 starts over fences, just failed to catch Editeur Du Gite in the rescheduled Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham last month, but King feels that he may have been suffering from a bruised foot during that race.

He added: “He was very lame the next morning, so whether he was feeling it even then. I thought after the last he’d go away and win.

“I was surprised, because usually he finishes a race so well. Look, we’ll see, but he’s fine again anyway.”

Flooring Porter making good progress towards Stayers’ Hurdle defence

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Gavin Cromwell is “pretty optimistic” Flooring Porter will return to full fitness in time to bid for a third victory in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham next month.

The eight-year-old was a brilliant all-the-way winner of the three-mile showpiece in 2021 and was similarly impressive when successfully defending his crown last season.

He has been beaten in both the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan and Leopardstown’s Christmas Hurdle so far this season, but as that was also the case last term there was no serious cause for alarm.

Gavin Cromwell (left) and jockey Danny Mullins celebrate after Flooring Porter's second Stayers' Hurdle success
Gavin Cromwell (left) and jockey Danny Mullins celebrate after Flooring Porter’s second Stayers’ Hurdle success (Steven Paston/PA)

However, Cromwell revealed in mid-January his stable star had suffered a setback that meant his hopes of making the Festival were no better than “50-50” and “hanging in the balance”.

A month on, though, and the County Meath handler issued a more positive update on Flooring Porter’s well-being, saying: “He’s done plenty of work and has taken it all good so far, so we’re pretty optimistic at this stage.

“As things stand I’d say we’re 70-30 or 80-20 (to make Cheltenham).”

In Flooring Porter’s absence a number of horses have thrown their hat in the Stayers’ Hurdle ring.

Blazing Khal heads the Stayers' Hurdle market
Blazing Khal heads the Stayers’ Hurdle market (Brian Lawless/PA)

The Charles Byrnes-trained Blazing Khal is the new favourite after making a successful return in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan, Gordon Elliott’s Teahupoo staked his claim by winning the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park and French ace Gold Tweet came from nowhere to beat the best of the British in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham.

With Flooring Porter’s Navan and Leopardstown conqueror Home By The Lee also in the mix, the reigning champion is as big as 10-1 to join Inglis Drever as a three-time winner

“A few horses have come into it over the last few weeks and we’re just hoping we can get our horse back to Cheltenham in the same nick he has been the last two years,” Cromwell added.

Andrew Slattery looks to Sir Allen for Cheltenham Festival first

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Having seen several of his former proteges light up the Cheltenham Festival in previous years, Andrew Slattery is looking forward to saddling his first ever runner at the showpiece meeting next month in the form of promising juvenile hurdler Sir Allen.

The County Tipperary is better known as a Flat trainer under Rules, with Group Two scorer Creggs Pipes and Listed-winning sprinter An Saighdiur among the more familiar names to have been in his care.

He is no stranger to the jumping game either, though, having brought a number of future stars through his point-to-point academy, most notably the brilliant Faugheen.

Slattery watched on from afar as one of the most popular National Hunt horses of recent times powered up the Cheltenham hill to win a Champion Hurdle for Willie Mullins in 2015, while Cooldine was another Festival winner for the same team in the 2009 RSA Chase.

Ruby Walsh and Faugheen winning the 2015 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham
Ruby Walsh and Faugheen winning the 2015 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham (David Davies/PA)

He said: “We sold Faugheen after he won his point-to-point, as well as Cooldine. We also had a good horses like Monksland, Quel Esprit and Shan Blue.

“We sold all those after their point-to-points, so while plenty of them have run at Cheltenham, we’ve never actually had a runner there ourselves.

“We’ve had a few runners at Royal Ascot, but never Cheltenham, so it’s something to look forward to.”

Sir Allen is rated in the 60s on the Flat, but has not done much wrong in three starts over hurdles this winter.

After chasing home leading Triumph Hurdle contender Blood Destiny on his jumping bow at Cork, the Territories gelding went one better at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve before following up at Naas last weekend in a rated novice event that has produced three of the last four winners of the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham in Band Of Outlaws, Aramax and Brazil.

Slattery is not ruling out a more ambitious tilt at the Triumph Hurdle at Prestbury Park, but admits the handicap route would appear the logical one at this stage.

“Everything seems good and he’s in good shape after his race, so we’re hopefully heading for the Boodles I suppose,” the trainer added.

“We’ve got an Irish mark of 127 now and we’ll have to wait and see what he gets in England.

“He’s also in the Triumph, but he’d have a about a stone and a half to find, so we’ll aim for the Boodles unless it looks like the Triumph is going to cut up to be a small field, which could happen.

“The Boodles ends up being very competitive and with 20 runners you could run into traffic problems, and the track the Triumph is run over (New Course) might actually suit him better as he stays very well.”

Andrew Slattery (left) with Creggs Pipes
Andrew Slattery (left) with Creggs Pipes (PA)

Slattery admits he had high hopes Sir Allen would take to hurdling from an early stage.

He said: “It was really after we started schooling him as he took to it so well the first time we tried and you know they could be fairly useful when they’ve the appetite for it.

“There’s still plenty to be won with him on the Flat as well I think. He probably should be rated higher than he is, but he kept getting left in the stalls.

“He goes on any ground, so that is something to hopefully look forward to as well.”

Festival hope Hiddenvalley Lake bids to book Albert Bartlett ticket

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Leading Cheltenham Festival contender Hiddenvalley Lake follows a tried and tested route for Henry de Bromhead in the Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel on Thursday.

The Knockeen handler first claimed the Grade Three prize in 2017 with the top-class Monalee before he went on to finish second to Penhill in the Albert Bartlett the following month.

De Bromhead made it back-to-back wins at Clonmel 12 months later with Chris’s Dream, while in 2019 his subsequent Gold Cup hero Minella Indo filled the runner-up spot behind Allaho before reversing that form to strike Festival gold.

Shantreusse was unable to make an impact in the Albert Bartlett after scoring at Clonmel last season, but hopes are high Hiddenvalley Lake can cement his claims for the showpiece meeting by making it three from three over hurdles.

“He’s a lovely horse and we’re looking forward to running him in Clonmel,” said De Bromhead.

“He won well in Cork and looks a real stayer.”

Hiddenvalley Lake was a £200,000 purchase for owners Robcour after being carried out on his sole appearance in the point-to-point sphere.

He made a winning debut under rules at Naas in November before successfully stepping up in class and distance to lift a Grade Three prize over three miles at Cork the following month.

The son of Sholokhov is the 4-1 favourite with Sky Bet for the Albert Bartlett ahead of his attempt to give weight and a beating to seven rivals in County Tipperary.

Willie Mullins has a good record in Thursday's Clonmel feature
Willie Mullins has a good record in Thursday’s Clonmel feature (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

His biggest threat appears to be Corbetts Cross, who makes his first appearance for Emmet Mullins after winning a point-to-point, a bumper and two novice hurdles for Eugene O’Sullivan.

De Bromhead has a second string to his bow in the form of Monty’s Star, while Willie Mullins – whose seven previous winners of the race include three subsequent Festival winners in Cooldine (2008), Don Poli (2014) and Allaho – relies on recent Cork winner Walk In The Brise.

Search For Glory (Gordon Elliott), Granny Lowrie (Pat Doyle), Kalanisi Dubh (Seamus Fahey) and Farceur De Sivola (John Ryan) complete the field.

‘She’s a real tank of a mare’ – Skelton sweet on Galia Des Liteaux in Brown Advisory

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Dan Skelton has highlighted Galia Des Liteaux as his best chance of picking up a fifth Cheltenham Festival victory, providing the mare gets her optimum conditions at Prestbury Park.

The soft-ground loving seven-year-old has looked a real versatile talent this year, with chasing successes over both two miles and three miles sandwiching her one blip in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Although she holds an entry for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase on the final day of the Festival, Skelton is favouring a tilt at the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase over three miles having proven her staying credentials when winning the Hampton Court at Warwick in good style last month.

He said: “If it rains I think Galia Des Liteaux has a massive chance in the Brown Advisory.

“She was an excellent winner of the Grade Two Hampton Novices’ Chase at Warwick last month. Nothing went to plan in the Kauto Star at Kempton the month before that – she jumped on the second jump and I feel because she did that she missed one midway through the race and Harry (Skelton) pulled her up.

“There was a bit of chatter about shadows at Kempton that day, but I’m not using that as an excuse. These things can happen in novice chases. She put the record straight at Warwick last time out and she loves soft ground.

“She’s a great big strong mare, she doesn’t look like a mare when you stand her up. Everything is big about her, she has big feet, big limbs and she’s a real tank of a mare.

“If you got a soft ground Brown Advisory, I think getting 7lb she would be a certain player.”

Galia Des Liteaux, during a visit to Dan Skelton’s stables at Lodge Hill
Galia Des Liteaux, during a visit to Dan Skelton’s stables at Lodge Hill (Jacob King/PA)

Three of Skelton’s four Festival victories have come in the County Hurdle and talented novice Pembroke, along with West Cork, could seek to add to that tally

“Pembroke was a non stayer at the Trials meeting in the Grade Two novice hurdle and that was the only small question mark,” continued Skelton.

“I thought he would stay and he didn’t and we have to drop back in trip and he will be in the County Hurdle.

“He just didn’t stay and I think if he had stayed we would have a different thought pattern. But he has to come back in trip and the New Course will suit him better than the old course.”

“If we can get a run under his belt, West Cork will also go for the County Hurdle.”

Midnight River got on the scoresheet at Prestbury Park on New Year’s Day and is set to return for the Plate over the same course and distance.

“He won on New Year’s Day at Cheltenham and I never like to use a word like entitled in sport, but it was obvious he would be able to win a race like that judged on his run in the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November,” said the Lodge Hill handler.

“A little bit of slower ground on New Year’s Day did him no harm and I would love the ground to be good to soft, soft in places for the Plate.

“My opinion on the ground is if it is not ideal ground to run him in the Plate then it is not going to be ideal ground full stop, which is why I would keep away from considering the Ultima.”

Third Time Lucki is disputing favouritism for the Grand Annual, but is not a guaranteed starter in the helter-skelter handicap on day two of the meeting.

Skelton is tempted to save the recent Sandown scorer for Aintree, but the possibility of optimum conditions for the two-time track-and-trip scorer means the race has to come under consideration.

Dan Skelton talks to media alongside Third Time Lucki, during a visit to Dan Skelton’s stables at Lodge Hill, Alcester
Dan Skelton talks to media alongside Third Time Lucki, during a visit to Dan Skelton’s stables at Lodge Hill, Alcester (Jacob King/PA)

“The reality is he might miss and go to Aintree,” said Skelton.

“But if the weather carried on like this, then he would have to be in. It would be ridiculous not to because we know he likes nice ground and it is not often you get the chance to go to the Festival and run on particularly nice ground which will suit a horse like him.

“This horse really suits the Old Course, a fast track and bang on two miles is perfect for him. If it stays dry he is an obvious horse for the Grand Annual.”

Potentially joining Third Time Lucki on the teamsheet for that two-mile contest is Unexpected Party who has shaped with potential without yet getting his head in-front over the larger obstacles.

He continued: “We’ve left him in the Graded races in case you get a four-runner Turners like last year and we could go and pick up some prize-money if that was appropriate. But the real race for him is the Grand Annual.

“There is a lot of people saying we’ve been really clever and plotting out a Festival handicap for him. I wish they were right but the truth is he slips between stalls on trip

“I’ve come to the conclusion you are better off being a confirmed stayer over two than a confirmed non-stayer over two and a half. A fast run race will suit him and we’re sharpening him up at home. We’re training him a little bit differently to try and get a little bit more out of him.

Meanwhile Langer Dan is something of a regular in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap and could go for his third crack at the race or the Coral Cup two days earlier.

“He will get entries in the Coral Cup and Martin Pipe,” added the four-time Festival-winning trainer.

“I just have no clue why he runs so moderately in the autumn. We’ve just got to accept that is how it is now. He would definitely have a chance.”

Skelton could also have two live handicap chances for big-spending owner Darren Yates in the form of Becher Chase winner Ashtown Lad and French import Punta Del Este.

Ashtown Lad ridden by jockey Harry Skelton on their way to winning the Boylesports Becher Chase at Aintree, is a possible for the Pertemps at the Cheltenham Festival
Ashtown Lad ridden by jockey Harry Skelton on their way to winning the Boylesports Becher Chase at Aintree, is a possible for the Pertemps at the Cheltenham Festival (Nigel French/PA)

The former secured qualification for the Pertemps Final when second at Warwick in January while Punta Del Este is set to make his UK bow at either Kelso or Haydock later this week.

“We’ll see how he (Ashtown Lad) gets on this weekend,” said Skelton.

“He’s qualified for the Pertemps, which is going to be a very different race this year as you have to finish in the first four places to qualify. It’s going to be a very different dynamic, but we’ll have a look a little closer to the time.

“Punta Del Este is in the Triumph, but the handicapper’s opinion of the French races is less than you would need for the Triumph. So depending on how he gets on at the weekend he could be one for the Fred Winter.”

Colic rules Aucunrisque out of quick return in Kingwell Hurdle

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Betfair Hurdle hero Aucunrisque will miss the Wincanton Jennings Bet Kingwell Hurdle on Saturday after a bout of colic.

The seven-year-old was an impressive winner at Newbury, part of a big TV double for trainer Chris Gordon.

While in such ripe form, Gordon was hoping to strike while the iron was hot, but plans have had to be revised after the Goodwin Racing Ltd-owned gelding was one of five horses at the yard to come down with colic.

Gordon said: “He had colic. We had a new batch of haylage and we had five horses go down with it.

Aucunrisque leading the Betfair Hurdle field
Aucunrisque leading the Betfair Hurdle field (Tim Goode/PA)

“He is all good and will live to fight another day, and so we won’t be running on Saturday.

“Everyone thinks everything is flying when you are having winners. Two were struggling a wee bit today, but they are good. We sorted it and the haylage has been changed – it was about 40 bales.

“Basically, colic is one of those things where they can get a twisted gut and it would require surgery, but with this, it is probably just a bad bale. They get chronic wind and it gets trapped a bit. It is just really bad stomach ache.

“So Aucunrisque won’t be going to Wincanton – he’ll go straight to Cheltenham and if we need to, we can always give him a racecourse gallop. We will look at the Grand Annual and the County Hurdle.”

Whip changes have not been handled well, says Skelton

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Dan Skelton hopes there are no whip bans at the Cheltenham Festival following the amendment of the new rules after widespread condemnation.

Speaking at a pre-Festival press day at his Alcester stable, the trainer said he felt the situation had been badly handled.

The changes to the whip rules have been subject to much discussion and amendment, with the final ruling limiting the number of strikes allowed and heightening penalties but allowing the forehand position – a method of using the whip that was initially set to be banned.

“I think they (whip rules) have been handled terribly and I don’t think anyone has got any pride in what’s happened,” the trainer said.

“It’s just been a bloody disaster to be quite honest, but what I hope comes out of this is that the general apathy to things like this has to come to an end.

Dan Skelton talks to media during a visit to his stables at Lodge Hill, Alcester
Dan Skelton talks to media during a visit to his stables at Lodge Hill, Alcester (Jacob King/PA)

“The only way it will come to an end is if there is genuine interaction and leadership. I think going forward we have a lot of lessons to learn from this whip situation.

“We’ve all got a part to play and like I say, we’ve got to drop the apathy and all work together because the industry desperately needs us.

“We know we’re under pressure – we’re even more under pressure this side of the Irish Sea than the other. We all need to come together and perhaps this is a catalyst for us all to do so and to all read off the same hymn sheet.”

Asked whether his brother and stable jockey Harry and Harry’s wife Bridget will need to adapt their riding to the new rules at Cheltenham, Skelton said: “That’s part of being a professional. There are new rules in place and if you adhere to the rules you will not get a ban.

“There is significantly more confidence that the rules that will be in play are able to be stuck to. I think with the original recommendations, once they were practised, it was obvious that people were really not going to be able to stick to them.

Dan Skelton alongside Protektorat
Dan Skelton alongside Protektorat (Jacob King/PA)

“The reality is how it should be implemented now is much more harmonious and everyone hopefully now understands it and gets on with it.

“Hopefully there are absolutely no whip bans whatsoever at Cheltenham and it works well. The rules are there now – that’s how many times you can use the stick. It’s quite clear.

“I have always been of the opinion on this that I stand behind the jockeys, not least because two of my family members are jockeys, but because they are the ones that are actually doing this.

“And if we properly and clearly empower them to stick to these rules, and they can do so, it’s going to benefit the sport.”

Skelton retains maximum faith in Protektorat’s Gold Cup challenge

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Dan Skelton remains convinced his star staying chaser Protektorat will once again make his presence felt in next month’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The eight-year-old finished best of the British in the blue riband last season when third behind Henry de Bromhead’s pair of A Plus Tard and Minella Indo – and could hardly have been more impressive on his seasonal reappearance in Haydock’s Betfair Chase at Haydock.

But his Gold Cup credentials were dented on Cheltenham Trials Day in late January as he could finish only fourth as hot favourite for the Cotswold Chase, with Skelton subsequently blaming himself for leaving his charge short in the fitness department.

Bookmakers inevitably lengthened Protektorat’s Festival odds off the back of that defeat, with Betfair offering 16-1 – but speaking at a press morning at his yard on Tuesday, Skelton said anyone writing off his Gold Cup chances does so at their peril.

“I hold my hands up after Cheltenham – I didn’t have him as fit as thought he was,” he said.

“If we’d gone into that race with me saying ‘this is a prep run’, I think everyone would have come out and said it was a lovely prep run, he blew up turning in and stayed on from the back of the last.

“That wasn’t the plan. I thought and hoped he’d win and we’d go on to the Gold Cup, but that’s not how it’s worked out.

“He was third in the Gold Cup last year and is a bigger, stronger, better horse this year. I think you all saw at Haydock when he’s at his absolute best how good he can be.”

The Alcester handler is confident a leaner and meaner version of Protektorat will show up in the Cotswolds in four weeks’ time, with a racecourse gallop at Southwell pencilled in as a key part of preparation.

Dan and Harry Skelton with Protektorat
Dan and Harry Skelton with Protektorat (Jacob King/PA)

He added: “We’ve just got to knuckle down, and we have knuckled down in the couple of weeks since the Cotswold Chase, and get him like he was at Haydock.

“If he goes into the Gold Cup like he was at Haydock, I think you’ll find his run in the Cotswold Chase will be significantly behind him and I think he’s got a real good chance.

“Drying conditions are a concern, but the only thing is the longer it stays dry, the more certain it will rain! Maybe it will all rain at once.”

The hot favourite for the Gold Cup is the Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs, who proved his stamina over three miles in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown earlier in the month.

But while Skelton respects the Irish challenger, he is not one to shirk a challenge.

He said: “Obviously Galopin Des Champs is the correct favourite. He got the trip the last day, (but) there is a small question mark over whether he’ll stay three-mile-two at Cheltenham, which Willie is convinced he’ll answer positive and I’m certainly in no place to doubt the horse or the trainer!

“But what I’m getting at is Galopin Des Champs aside, it’s a very, very open Gold Cup. Everyone has had a go at beating each other and there have been different results along the line.

“Our horse is a confirmed stayer and can get round the track and on our Haydock form, we’re right up there.

“He looks absolutely magnificent in his coat and hopefully he can go two places better than last year.”

Two days prior to Protektorat’s second bid for Gold Cup glory, his stablemate Nube Negra will have a second tilt at the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Dan Skelton alongside Nube Negra
Dan Skelton alongside Nube Negra (Jacob King/PA)

The nine-year-old was beaten just half a length into second place by Put The Kettle On in the 2021 edition of the two-mile chasing championship, but was withdrawn from last season’s renewal on account of the rain-softened ground.

The Spanish-bred gelding made the most of a gilt-edged opportunity when landing Cheltenham’s Shloer Chase in November, though, and while he was no match for Editeur De Gite in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton over Christmas, Skelton is hopeful Nube Negra will show his true colours next month granted normal Cheltenham conditions.

He said: “The Champion Chase looks a very open race. Everyone has beaten each other and everyone has got reasons why they got beat.

“He won the Shloer, which he should have done at 1-10, and then I think he actually ran really well at Kempton on tacky ground, which is not perfect for him.

Horses on the gallops during a visit to Dan Skelton’s yard
Horses on the gallops during a visit to Dan Skelton’s yard (Jacob King/PA)

“I’m not making an excuse – we got beaten by a horse that was clearly superior that day (Editeur Du Gite) with those tactics and has gone on to frank the form significantly in the Clarence House.

“This horse is very effective when he’s very fresh, he’s effective at Cheltenham and the better the ground the better his chance.

“It’s a very unclear picture, but we’re very happy to have our hat in the ring and I think it’s a given we can have him better than he was at Christmas when the sun’s out and the ground’s better.

“We’re pretty positive. He was second in it before and we’d love to try and go one better.”