Cheltenham Festival 2025 Trainers in Focus: Dan Skelton

Willie Mullins once again claimed top trainer honours at the 2024 edition of the Cheltenham Festival, but he didn’t quite have things all his own way. With the Nicky Henderson yard under a cloud at the time, Dan Skelton stepped into the breach to lead the home defence.

Four winners represented a career-best tally for Skelton at Prestbury Park in March, taking the Lodge Hill handler to 10 Cheltenham Festival winners since striking out on his own.

Heading into that 2024 edition, five of Skelton’s previous six festival winners had come in the handicaps. As such, the yard achieved a notable feat in registering a Grade 1 double in the Golden Miller Novices’ Chase and the Ryanair Chase. 

Currently sitting atop the British Trainers Championship table, Skelton looks as strong as ever in 2025 and well-placed to add to his Cheltenham Festival tally. 

Here, we run through the most likely members of his team and pick out the runners who most catch our eye from a betting perspective.

Asta La Pasta - Johnny Henderson Grand Annual, 25/1 with bet365

Having claimed this 2m handicap for the first time with Unexpected Party in 2024, Skelton looks set to be strongly represented in the Day 2 contest once again.

Successful in the bumper sphere and over hurdles, Asta La Pasta reached a mark of 124 over the smaller obstacles. Five starts into his chase career, he sits on a perch of 132.

Recent defeats at Kempton and Musselburgh will need improving upon. However, those efforts came over 2m4½f, and most of his best efforts have come at around 2m. This son of Walk In The Park looks interesting as he drops back in trip for this valuable event.

Be Aware – Coral Cup, 10/1 with LiveScoreBet

2023 and 2024 Coral Cup hero, Langer Dan, looks set to step up in class at the 2025 festival, but Skelton has sound claims of making it three in a row with this six-year-old son of Martaline.

Whilst a little below par in the Ladbrokes Hurdle at Ascot last time, he still finished third in a hot handicap to continue his solid start to the campaign.

Before that, he finished best of the rest behind Burdett Road in the Greatwood Hurdle over this course and distance. He’s 7lb higher than for that effort here but will arrive fresh following a near-three month break and remains unexposed in this sphere.

Fortune De Mer – Weatherbys Champion Bumper, 50/1 with Spreadex

Amongst a host of potential Champion Bumper contenders from the yard, this Doyen gelding boasts the most appealing profile. 

In two Bumper outings at Cheltenham, Fortune De Mer has finished second by just half a length and gone one better by that same margin. 

Those long odds stem from a disappointing outing at Huntingdon last time, but he didn’t help himself by pulling like a train that day. 

Back at a track which holds no fears, and with a strong pace assured, he is one of the more interesting outsiders.

Grey Dawning – Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, 33/1 with bet365

Grey Dawning put the yard in the spotlight in 2024 when claiming a thrilling edition of the Turners Novices’ Chase. Following that success, it is a little surprising that he is only a possible Festival contender one year on.

However, that trepidation is a symptom of a below-average start to the season. Kicking off the season with a solid second to Royal Pagaille in the Betfair Chase, Grey Dawning failed to complete in the King George, having made a hash of the first fence. 

Will he stay the 3m2½f of the Gold Cup? We may not get a chance to find out, with rumours suggesting he may be kept fresh for the Aintree Bowl. Then again, there is only one Gold Cup, and connections may yet opt to roll the dice.

Gwennie May Boy – Pertemps Final, 16/1 with Boylesports

Given his prowess in Cheltenham handicaps, it is probably only a matter of time until Skelton claims this Day 3 event. Could Gwennie May Boy be the one?

Only joining Skelton in February 2024, this seven-year-old made an electric start to life at Lodge Hill – winning his first three starts to climb from a mark of 113 to 137. 

He has yet to cope with that elevated rating in three starts this term, albeit running creditably at Carlisle and Windsor. The main purpose of those events may have been to tee him up for this, and he should be well suited by a strongly run 3m.

Langer Dan – Paddy Power Stayer’s Hurdle, 20/1 with bet365

Beaten by a combined 40½l in two Grade 2 contests and a 45l last of five in a Class 2 at Windsor last time - on 2024/25 form, you wouldn’t give Langer Dan any chance of lifting the Stayer’s Hurdle title. 

However, Langer Dan is something of a law unto himself. Heading to Cheltenham 2023 on the back of a 35l defeat, he promptly landed the Coral Cup. Fast forward to 2024, and his second Coral Cup title was preceded by a nearer last-than-first effort in the Lanzarote Hurdle. 

This is his toughest test to date, and he has yet to win over 3m, but Cheltenham in March invariably sees him but his best hoof forward.

L’Eau Du Sud – My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy, 9/2 with BetVictor

The absence of Sir Gino deprives the home team of its best chance of winning the 2025 Arkle, with the Willie Mullins-trained Majborough now odds on across the board. However, those rushing to hand the title to the JP McManus-owned star may wish to pause and assess the credentials of L’Eau du Sud.

A dual winner over hurdles, he ran a cracker at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, when finishing second to Absurde in the County Hurdle. As solid as those hurdle performances were, he has already posted a significantly higher level of form over the larger obstacles. 

Now four from four in his chase career, his sole chase start at this track saw him claim the Grade 2 Arkle Trial by a resounding 11l. Whilst not as eye-catching last time out at Warwick, he still got the job done, and a proven ability to handle the course counts for plenty.

Live Conti – JCB Triumph Hurdle, 25/1 with BetVictor

If Skelton is represented in the 2025 Triumph, this French recruit may be the one. 

Raced only once for Noel George & Amanda Zetterman, the son of Cokoriko stormed home to claim a 2m2f event at Auteuil. That effort suggested a strongly run 2m1f ought to suit, and with a couple of subsequent winners in behind that day, the form looks solid. 

Whether “solid” equates to Triumph Hurdle standard is difficult to assess at this stage. We will likely learn more following Live Conti’s scheduled British debut at Wetherby on Wednesday, 12th of February. 

Nurse Susan – Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, 40/1 with bet365

It would be great to see this talented but troubled mare back on track at the 2025 festival. Last seen on a racecourse in January 2024, she will have a yawning absence to overcome, but Skelton is a past master at getting his runners in peak condition at home. 

Having finished fourth in a hot edition of the Mares’ Novices Hurdle in 2022, she would rate an interesting each-way contender – particularly if market leaders Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth head to the Champion Hurdle instead.

Panic Attack – Trustatrader Plate, 12/1 with bet365

A bumper winner for Willie Mullins back in 2020, Panic Attack scored over hurdles and fences for David Pipe before joining the Skelton yard in November 2024. 

Considering she only returned from a 649-day break in December, she was shown remarkable consistency for her new handler – hitting the frame in all three hurdles outings and claiming her sole chase start by an easy 5l. A rating of 135 puts her 5lbs above her career high, but if her new surroundings have unlocked improvement, there may be more to come.

Protektorat – Ryanair Chase, 6/1 with bet365

The established star of the Skelton yard is set to make his fifth Cheltenham Festival appearance in 2025. 

Having finished third and fifth in back-to-back editions of the Gold Cup, the drop in trip to the 2m5f of the Ryanair Chase worked the oracle in 2024, as the mount of Harry Skelton powered to a sizzling verdict over Envoi Allen. 

With the Irish duo of Fact To File and Spillane’s Tower amongst the likely opposition, the 2025 Ryanair looks like a hot race. However, Protektorat stormed back to his best when claiming the Fleur De Lys Chase by 23l in January and won’t give up his title without a fight.

Take No Chances – Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, 10/1 with bet365

This admirable daughter of Milan has been kept busy in 2024/25 and scores highly for consistency, having hit the frame in four of five outings this term. 

The pick of those efforts undoubtedly came last time out at Ascot, where she gave 1lb and a ¾l beating to the Grade 1 winner Kargese in the Warfield Mares’ Hurdle. The suspicion is that the Willie Mullins mare was some way below her best that day, but that still rates a solid effort. 

Having finished second under 12st in a competitive handicap on her only previous outing over course and distance, Take No Chances appears likely to be a popular each-way option.

The New Lion – Turners Novices’ Hurdle, 3/1 with bet365

One of the most exciting novice hurdlers to ever emerge from the Skelton operation. That’s quite a statement but looking back at the efforts of The New Lion, it’s hard to come to any other conclusion.

Set to carry the colours of JP McManus for the first time at Cheltenham, The New Lion made a solid impression when claiming his sole start of 2023/24. It’s fair to say he has built on that effort over hurdles. Three starts have produced three wins, with his most recent success seeing him saunter to a 4¾l victory in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury.  

The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle remains an option, but the Turners is the more likely assignment, where rising Willie Mullins star Final Demand lies in wait.

Unexpected Party – Johnny Henderson Grand Annual, 10/1 with BetFred

One of the Skelton heroes in 2024, Unexpected Party ran out an impressive 2¼l winner of the fast and furious Grand Annual Challenge Cup. 

That success came off a mark of 138, and he began the current campaign on 149. However, four starts later, he’s down to 144 and suggested he may be coming back to form when second last time out at Windsor. 

Boasting form figures of 1P22 in 2m handicap chases, he relishes this sort of test and will be primed and ready for the big day. 

Valgrand – William Hill County Handicap Hurdle, 12/1 with bet365

Having ended 2023/24 with back-to-back successes at Uttoxeter and Bangor, Valgrand took his form to another level with a 17l success in the Grade 2 Sharp Novices Hurdle on his seasonal return. 

Since then, he has suffered a comprehensive defeat at the hands of Potters Charm in The Hyde Novices’ Hurdle and struggled to shoulder a big weight in a pair of handicap events.

Having shot up to 140 following his Grade 2 victory, he’s down to 134 ahead of this, which should see him carry a more manageable burden in the big 2m handicap on the final day. He’s ground-dependent and won’t be risked on soft but is an interesting contender if the weather cooperates.

All Skelton Each Way Lucky 15

Having claimed four winners at the 2024 edition, it wouldn’t be the biggest surprise to see Skelton repeat the feat in 2025. As such, an each way Lucky 15 makes plenty of appeal at this stage. 

The question is, which of the above 15 runners should we include?

Whilst a decent case can be made for all 15, the following quartet make the most appeal at the current prices:

• Coral Cup: Be Aware @ 10/1 with LiveScoreBet 
• My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy: L’Eau Du Sud @ 4/1 with LiveScoreBet
• Turners Novices Hurdle: The New Lion @ 11/4 with LiveScoreBet
• Johnny Henderson Grand Annual: Unexpected Party @ 10/1 with LiveScoreBet

A 50p each way Lucky 15 on the above selections at the listed prices returns £2,328.44 with LiveScoreBet if all four horses win, and £71.79 if all four only hit the placed positions.

Paul Harrison

Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.