Dan Skelton has continued his remarkable form at Haydock with a resounding Betfair Chase victory, as his 10-11 favourite Grey Dawning edged out last year's winner Royale Pagaille in thrilling style.
The win marked a perfect response from the Skeltons to their defeat in this very race 12 months earlier, with Harry Skelton riding the horse with an air of imperious calm. The jockey allowed his mount to match strides with Handstands and Royale Pagaille early on before making his move on the final circuit.
Grey Dawning's victory was a testament to the trainer's ability to bring out the best in his horses, particularly after last year's disappointment. Skelton has spoken about how the horse could have 'cried off' after suffering a gruelling race 12 months ago but instead returned stronger than ever.
The win was also an emotional one for the Skeltons family, with Harry's wife giving birth to their baby daughter just over 48 hours before the event. Despite the drama unfolding outside the ring, Harry remained focused and composed throughout the ride.
Dan Skelton praised his team for a phenomenal day's work, particularly Grey Dawning who proved himself to be a worthy successor to Protektorat in this prestigious race. With the horse showing potential for another Gold Cup bid, it seems that the Skeltons will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in British racing.
The trainer also paid tribute to his brother Harry, who had been visibly emotional in the paddock, saying he was proud of his jockey's professionalism and composure in such an intense moment. With this win, the Skeltons have further cemented their reputation as one of the most dominant forces in British jumping racing.
The win marked a perfect response from the Skeltons to their defeat in this very race 12 months earlier, with Harry Skelton riding the horse with an air of imperious calm. The jockey allowed his mount to match strides with Handstands and Royale Pagaille early on before making his move on the final circuit.
Grey Dawning's victory was a testament to the trainer's ability to bring out the best in his horses, particularly after last year's disappointment. Skelton has spoken about how the horse could have 'cried off' after suffering a gruelling race 12 months ago but instead returned stronger than ever.
The win was also an emotional one for the Skeltons family, with Harry's wife giving birth to their baby daughter just over 48 hours before the event. Despite the drama unfolding outside the ring, Harry remained focused and composed throughout the ride.
Dan Skelton praised his team for a phenomenal day's work, particularly Grey Dawning who proved himself to be a worthy successor to Protektorat in this prestigious race. With the horse showing potential for another Gold Cup bid, it seems that the Skeltons will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in British racing.
The trainer also paid tribute to his brother Harry, who had been visibly emotional in the paddock, saying he was proud of his jockey's professionalism and composure in such an intense moment. With this win, the Skeltons have further cemented their reputation as one of the most dominant forces in British jumping racing.
that comeback is just insane, grey dawning was meant to be a contender for gold cup already! 
the way harry rode him was so smooth, like he had it all in control from the start. 
and can u imagine being pregnant with your first baby 2 days before this? 
that's some serious multitasking right there! 
dan skelton is just on another level as a trainer, his dedication to his horses is truly inspiring. he's got an amazing team behind him too, kudos to them for all the hard work! 
his comeback from last year was insane and that family drama with Harry's wife giving birth just hours before... like, how does one even process that? but you know what they say, 'when life gives you lemons make lemonade'... or in this case, when life throws you a baby girl on the eve of a big race, your jockey stays focused 
. and omg Harry's composure was like nothing I've ever seen, the dude just rode that horse like it was nobodies business 
anyway, Skelton's got his team in check and they're looking good for another Gold Cup bid... fingers crossed 
. His wife giving birth just 48 hours before the event would've been super stressful, but he stayed focused on the track and rode his horse to victory.
. They clearly have a solid team dynamic in place, which makes all the difference when it comes to achieving success like this. The Skeltons are definitely a force to be reckoned with in British jumping racing 
. Can't wait 2 c what they do next with Grey Dawning... maybe we'll see him win that Gold Cup? 
! Dan Skelton's got some serious magic with those horses and it's awesome to see Harry's calm vibes under pressure 
! Did they get any reaction from Harry before or during the ride, and how did he manage to stay focused with all that drama going on outside? 
. The fact that he rode with "an air of imperious calm" is no joke - that guy's all business when it comes to racing. And let's be real, the win's not just about Grey Dawning; it's about the whole Skelton crew coming together and crushing it. I mean, have you seen those wins? They're like a thing of beauty 
. The drama with Harry's baby girl birth happening 48 hours prior is a nice touch too - gotta love a family that keeps it real 
.
His wife giving birth just days before too, talk about dedication! And Dan Skelton getting his team all riled up with that "cried off" comment 
like he takes his training and jockeying so seriously but also gets to spend time with his newborn baby girl after her wife had her just 48 hours before the big race wow that's some serious dedication to his craft & fam life 
. And kudos to Dan Skelton for getting his team together and crushing it - they're definitely one of the top teams in British jumping racing right now 
. And Dan Skelton being so proud of his bro and jockey... that's just beautiful 
. They're truly an amazing family team in the racing world