Dan Skelton Stable Tour 2025/26 - Key quotes from Champion Trainer favourite
Dan Skelton is preparing for an exciting 2025/26 National Hunt season with a strong roster of horses. Key stars include Grey Dawning, L'Eau Du Sud, and Protektorat, aiming for Grade 1 success. Alongside them, novice hurdlers like Big Cadillac and brace for steady improvement, while novice chasers such as Be Aware have potential in fences. Each horse's unique attributes and targeted races promise a thrilling season. Skelton's strategy emphasizes careful race placement and development towards optimal distances, showcasing his dedication to top-level racing success.
- Key quotes from Dan Skelton's stable tour
- Skelton ran through all of his stars for the 2025/26 season with AtTheRaces
- Get updates on The New Lion, Live Conti and many more
- All quotes taken from AtTheRaces
- 🌟 Stable Stars 🌟
- ➡️ Novice Hurdlers
- ➡️ Older Hurdlers
- ➡️ Novice Chasers
- ➡️ Older Chasers
- ➡️ Bumper Horses
Dan Skelton Stable Tour 2025/26
Ahead of the new National Hunt season, top trainer Dan Skelton talks through his team for 2025/26 with AtTheRaces.
Here's the full Dan Skelton stable tour. All quotes taken from AtTheRaces.
Dan Skelton Stable Tour 2025/26
🌟 Stable Stars 🌟
Grey Dawning
It rained so much on the day in the Betfair Chase that the winner Royal Pagaille was able to take advantage of conditions. We would love it not to be so quite soft at Haydock this year and we will have another go. He did well last year, winning at Kelso and finishing second at Aintree. hopefully, we can win another Grade 1 at some point.
L'Eau Du Sud
He had a good year last year and won a Grade 1 and two Grade 2s over fences. He should be productive again this year and we might start at Ascot if we get some rain in the next three weeks. He is a high-class horse and should continue to pay his way but is not quite in the top, top bracket. It wouldn’t be out of the question that he will look to go further at some point.
Live Conti
He is a very nice horse who was second in a Grade 1 Juvenile at Aintree, and we will pick and choose our targets. He is four going into five so there is no rush, and I imagine he will have three or four runs over hurdles this year. He will make a fine chaser next year.
Protektorat
He won the Fleur De Lys Chase race at Windsor last year and will have that race on the agenda again. I would like to start in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby, and I have done plenty of work with him, so he won’t have any excuses if the ground is alright.
He has had a good summer and looks fantastic, and I have made no secret of the fact that we want to go down the Champion Hurdle route. I don’t think the step back in trip to two miles will be an issue and we are going to let the races pan out for him. We want to start off in the Fighting Fifth so let’s hope for plenty of cut in the ground up at Newcastle. We will see what we do and where we go after.
➡️ Novice Hurdlers
Big Cadillac
He won well at Chepstow and saw the trip out well and won by staying. We will try and find him a two and a half mile maiden hurdle in two or three weeks. I would hope to step him up to three miles and I think he could be quite a smart novice hurdler. We were quite impressed with how well he stayed that day and I think he beat quite a smart horse as well.
Bossman Jack
He won at Wincanton and looked good doing so. He is quite a raw babyish type of horse, and it was quite strange that he knew enough to win. I would say two and a half miles would be no problem, but we will start over two somewhere in a month with him. Then maybe try for something a little fancier over Christmas.
Brace For Landing
He came to us from France, and I think he is a chaser down the line, but he comes a maiden over hurdles and can acquit himself well over hurdles beforehand.
Carlenrig
He is new to us, and he won an English point-to–point. He won by staying very well and I imagine we will get him out as soon as it rains over two and a half miles upwards.
Dalston Lad
He won two bumpers and ended up running in the Champion Bumper. The Champion Bumper was probably the wrong race for him, but the experience wouldn’t have done him any harm. He definitely wants two and a half as soon as it rains and we would eventually step him up to three. You would like to think he would make a Graded hurdler over a distance.
Double Measure
He won nicely at Uttoxeter, and he has plenty of pace. He is another who want the rains and he will be kept to two miles for now.
Dutch Corner
He was very frustrating as if I thought we had one horse who could win a bumper it was him. I really like him, and I think he will leave his bumper form behind. It wouldn’t surprise me if he was a spring type of horse and I like him a lot.
Edelak
He is new to us but has some good form on the Flat and he will go juvenile hurdling whenever it rains. We will get him out on the grass at home and give him the best preparation we can. His form ties in well with some pretty smart animals and you would like to think he would make a smart juvenile hurdler.
Forthfactor
He won a bumper at Hereford in pretty soft ground and that’s what we are waiting for. As soon as it soft enough he will run in another bumper then he will definitely go hurdling. I would imagine he would stay two and a half without much difficulty.
Fortune De Mer
He is just getting a bit keen in his races which he was doing last year in his Listed bumper. The run at Uttoxeter the other day will have done him well and he will go for a Grade 2 at the Cheltenham October Meeting. We will see where the season takes us.
Getawhisky
She is a nice mare who wants a bit of cut in the ground but is ready to run as soon as it rains. It wouldn’t surprise me if she was an improver and will probably get two and a half at the end of the season.
Giantsgrave
Good horse, who stays well and won well in heavy ground at Ffos Las. He probably won’t be seen out until mid-November when it has rained plenty. He is going to get a staying trip, and I really like him.
Great Fleet
He surprised us with the way he ran at Kelso and not the finishing position. We were delighted to see he has got himself back together. He travelled so well at Kelso, and he should be winning a maiden hurdle next time over two and a half.
Just Golden
He won a bumper last year by staying and that is his forte. He will run in a maiden hurdle, and I would imagine he will be up to three miles by the spring.
Kadastral
He is a lovely horse who won the valuable bumper at Newbury. He will start over hurdles over two miles in November but will get two and a half in the spring. We would have to have Graded aspirations for him. Hopefully, he can be a good hurdler, but I would say he be a better chaser.
Kaldoun Des Rocs
He is a lovely horse who will be a Juvenile Hurdler. He was second in France, and the form of his race is working out really well. I like what I see, and we will run him around Christmas time.
Keops Des Bordes
He is a really nice horse and he was probably beaten by a good horse in his bumper and did everything right bar win. I really like him going forward and he will be a nice hurdler but a far much better chaser. I really like him a lot.
Kilbakanto
He is a nice horse and ready to go but just needs sensible ground. He will definitely get three miles, and I am happy with what we see.
Largy Belter
He is a horse who came from Ireland, and he is big strong horse who I think will make a better chaser but will be ready to start over hurdles as soon as it rains. I imagine he will be good enough to win a maiden as he is quite forward and strong.
Leaumec De Mee
He ran very well at Kempton in his only bumper, and he will definitely make a better jumper. I think he would go very close when he runs over hurdles and I think he will improve a great deal as time goes by.
Lirone Du Seuil
He is new to us and a maiden from France. I think he will stay a trip but will probably start over two miles and will definitely make a chaser.
Loriko
Loriko had a fine start for us over hurdles at Uttoxeter the other day. He was a little keen early on then had a good blow. He will step up on that effort.
Mille Et Une Vies
She is a lovely young horse who is new to us. She has some graded form at Auteuil, and we will try and have her ready for Newbury on November 28 for a Listed Juvenile Fillies’ race.
Moneygarrow
He ran really well at Chepstow on Friday in the Graded race on his first run over hurdles. It was a big ask but he acquitted himself well and stayed onto the line after giving a big blow. I should hope wherever we go next, he will take the world of beating. If we decide to just go for a maiden, you would like to think he can just go there and win.
Mydaddypaddy
He is a real impressive horse who bolted up in his bumper at Huntingdon. He looks pretty smart, and we don’t know yet where he will start but he is definitely one to follow.
Phineas Bunce
He had two good runs in bumpers last year but is very much a jumper. To be honest, hurdles will be fine, but he is really a chaser. I do like him, and I think he will improve next year.
Precious Man
He won in Auteuil and is a Juvenile hurdler. He will go to the Cheltenham November Meeting for the Juvenile hurdle.
Private Dancer
He will make a hurdler this year and is a big brave bold horse. I think he will make a fine juvenile.
Quaviste
He won really well at Huntingdon where he was pushed wide all the way round and did well to win. I ran him after that at Aintree which was probably a run too many at the end of the year. He is a big strong travelling horse who will make a fine chaser, but I am looking forward to him hurdling first. He should be out in the next fortnight.
Real Quartz
He is a good strong horse who won his point-to-point in Ireland really well. We like what we see, and he will start at two miles if it was somewhere like Wetherby, otherwise it will be two and a half. I think he is a really nice horse.
Sheezer Dancer
She is filly I like a lot, and she went a long way around Cheltenham when she finished third in a good bumper. The winner sold for a fortune and when you watch the race our horses could have gone half furlong further around the outside. I think she is a smart mare, and she will go straight over hurdles.
Sinnatra
He is new to us but obviously has some nice bumper form. He is a big strong chasing type, but he will go over hurdles. I would like to think he is going to make a smart hurdler but ultimately, he is going to be better over fences.
Supreme Malinas
She had a good year last year and won a Listed bumper. She needs a bit of cut in the ground and as soon as it’s soft she will be out in mares’ novices’ hurdles. There is no reason not to think that she could be a Lissted filly.
Twistthenightaway
She is a nice mare, and bumpers never suited her, but I think she had a run nonetheless and ran nicely. I think she will be much better over hurdles and fences.
➡️ Older Hurdlers
Ace Of Spades
He did well last year and the step up in trip at the end of the season saw him in a better light. We will try and find him a race in the next fortnight/three weeks and then head to Haydock for the valuable long-distance hurdle.
Honky Tonk Highway
She is a good mare and won Listed bumper and a Liisted hurdle. I think she won’t be seen out until it is definitely soft, but she gets three miles and two and a half miles on really soft ground is no problem. We will see where it is softest and that is where we will head.
Joyeux Machin
He ran well at the weekend over a slightly inadequate trip. I think the step up to three miles will obviously help next time. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that he will go to Haydock. If it wasn’t soft enough, we will look elsewhere, but he should have another productive year.
Kabral Du Mathan
He has plenty of good form over hurdles and we are humming and harring whether to stay over hurdles or go chasing with him. We are not under any pressure until it rains, and you can presume he is going to be a productive horse.
Kateira
She won for a Listed Mares’ for us around this time last year and I was disappointed to see her get beat in the West Yorkshire Hurdle previously but a mistake two out cost her dearly. She has been a good horse all through her career and there’s no reason she shouldn’t have another good year.
Let It Rain
She probably won’t be seen until the spring but she was very good on her second run over hurdles after needing her first run. I would like to think we would have a productive spring with her.
Listentoyourheart
She ran nicely in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Chepstow on Sunday when finishing fourth and definitely extended trip. She was tried over an extended trip at Aintree at the backend of spring and she didn’t get the trip, but she was probably over the top by then and she goes to Wincanton on November 8.
Royal Infantry
He did well in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow on Saturday, he took a blow probably and just got beaten by readier horses. There was no excuse against those horses on the day theory were slightly readier than us, so we look forward to where we go next. There’s a wealth of opportunities for him. We will act accordingly and find the right one.
Tranquil Sea
He won the other day, and he had the benefit of a run which clearly helped him. Three miles suits and he could run next at the Cheltenham November Meeting.
➡️ Novice Chasers
Be Aware
He goes chasing. He doesn’t make life easy for himself as he can be quite keen but fences could be the making of him. I don’t quite know where we start yet, but two miles on soft ground is what he wants.
Catch Him Derry
He had a great year last year and won and was placed at Cheltenham. He wants to go chasing now and as soon as it rains, we will get him started. I wouldn’t see him as a Graded Chaser straight away but further down the line I could see him being a Midlands National type of horse. I have always liked him, and he’s been a pretty consistent type of horse and there’s more to come.
Country Mile
He jumped really well at Uttoxeter as his jumping at home had been a little indifferent. We will see where it rains but it wouldn’t be out of the realms of possibility that he would run in a Graded chase at the Cheltenham November Meeting.
Doyen Quest
It was frustrating to get beat at Chepstow on Sunday and we just need one more good jump at the last but unfortunately, we didn’t have a stride, and the other one just caught us. It was a great ride from the winner and a great ride from the second, but we just needed one more jump I am afraid. He will go for the Rising Stars at Wincanton.
Hidden History
He did well for us last year and won at Uttoxeter and then I was a bit annoyed with the way that the race worked out for him at Perth. He needs chasing and that will see him in a different light. He wants some rain and then we will run. I think he is a horse who will get a trip, and he definitely wants some slower ground to be seen at his best.
Mr Hope Street
He had a good year last year and had a good time of it over hurdles, but I think he will be a better chaser. He will stay a trip and with his experience over hurdles he could be an exciting chaser.
Pony Soprano
He had a frustrating year last year and bolted in first time out and looked really smart and then it got to the bottom of him at Sandown and nothing was the same after. He goes over fences. He will start over two and half before moving up to three and let’s hope we can get him back to his Exeter form.
Sunray Shadow
He won at the start of last year then got a few niggly problems. He is back and doing plenty now and there is a chance he will go to Aintree in a fortnight’s time, a meeting he won at last year. If he doesn't go there, he will be running elsewhere pretty soon.
➡️ Older Chasers
Boombawn
He is well, and he is heading to the Old Roan Chase at Aintree in a fortnight. He will be the standing dish in those two and half mile grades races after that I would imagine.
Etalon
He has been a bit frustrating since winning lots of races a novice chaser. We thought he would kick on and didn’t quite, but he did get his act together when winning at Perth. I am sure that he will be winning again.
Hoe Joly Smoke
I didn’t run him at the weekend as the ground was too fast and three miles on some reasonable ground is what he wants. He won twice at Sandown last year and he doesn’t get an extreme distance but does get three miles and there are lots of races open to him.
Madara
Will make a start in the second half of the season and it may be around Trials Day at Cheltenham. After that we will try and aim for the Plate.
Thistle Ask
Thistle Ask is new to us and, hopefully, he can be a good addition to the team in handicap chases. He hasn’t got a fancy mark, but we hope has a winner’s mark.
➡️ Bumper Horses
Brecharnon
He won a pretty nice bumper and is by a sire (Goliath Du Berlais) that we are definitely going to follow. He is a very honest straightforward type of horse, and he probably won’t be seen three or four weeks. He will probably run under a penalty in a bumper.
Cooltobecareless
He ran really well in his bumper at Chepstow at the weekend and probably just bumped into one. I would fancy another go at a bumper as our horse ran quite green coming down the hill which surprised us, I have to say. Picking the right race in six weeks, he should win a bumper, and when he goes over hurdles, he is definitely going to get two and a half miles.
Harry Lowes
He is a lovely horse who won an Irish point-to-point and could start off in a bumper. He won over three miles, but he is definitely not slow.
Hitintheheadlines
He isn’t far off ready to run we just need some safe ground. He did well in an Irish point-to-point, and I like him. I like his attitude, and he has some zip about him. He should be going close in a bumper.
Laffer Curve
She is new to us and finished fourth in a good mares’ bumper at Ascot. She is eligible for the GBB mares’ bonus.
Le Beau Madrik
He ran well in his bumper at Plumpton, and we ran into one when Willie was trying to win the Championship. They were two really good horses in that bumper, and we came off second, but it doesn’t mean I don’t like him any less. He may run in a Listed bumper at the Cheltenham November Meeting.
Minella Marathon
He is a nice new horse, four-year-old, who won his point-to-point. He has a good attitude and stays well, and I think he is going to want a trip down the line. We will find a nice galloping track somewhere and get him started when it rains. I quite like him.
Moments In Time
He is a beautiful big four-year-old who bolted up in his point-to-point. He was very impressive, and I will probably go down the bumper route with him as he is going to need time to fill into his frame. He will start as soon as it gets soft.
The Mad Poet
I was a bit surprised he got beat in his bumper as he was showing everything as home. Fair play to the winner. I think he has improved this season, and we will probably go Listed bumpers with an eye on the valuable bumper at Newbury in the spring. He is a smart horse.
Vango Can Go
I like him, and he is a tough kind of horse. He should be ready for a bumper when the rain comes, and I think he will go well in.
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