David Power Jockeys' Cup: Skelton hails "very exciting initiative"

Harry Skelton has hailed the opportunity for riders with the advent of the new David Power Jockeys' Cup, praising the new competition as "a very exciting initiative."

The former champion jockey - currently tied at the top of the David Power Jockeys' Cup standings on 46 points with - believes the new competition can dovetail neatly with the current Champion Jockey title while providing wider coverage for the sport and a greater spotlight on its principal protagonists in the saddle.

"The new David Power Jockeys’ Cup is a very exciting initiative," said Skelton, an ambassador for Star Sports. 

"It’s a great opportunity for jockeys and, while there’s obviously unbelievable prize money on offer, if this helps bring a wider audience to the sport then it can only be a good thing.

"I think it will work alongside the current Jockeys’ Championship because a lot of riders that may be in contention for that will be riding in ITV races anyway. I think they can work together, and it’s great that there is such a significant extra pool of money coming into racing."

The jockey further added: "A lot of thanks go to the sponsors and hopefully it proves a success for the sport. 

"I think further down the line, everyone in racing can benefit from it. It’s focused on jockeys at the moment, but there’s also prize money for trainers and stable staff, and in the future maybe it can open up other avenues within racing, which would only be positive. 

"I’m really looking forward to competing for the cup throughout the season."

Skelton and brother and trainer Dan teamed up for four winners at last week, headlined by the exciting Grade Two success of L'Eau Du Sud in the Paddy Power Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial.

The rider told Star Sports: "We always felt fences were going to be the making of him.

"He he didn’t have such an advantage over hurdles as a lot of his rivals could get away with not being as exuberant as he is over fences."

Skelton added on the Cheltenham success: "He travelled and jumped brilliantly and put the race to bed in an instant, so he could do no more than win how he did. 

"Obviously, the competition is going to get better further down the line and we’ll have to take on the Irish horses, but that’s out of our hands. 

"He’s the best two-mile novice chaser we’ve got and we’re excited about his future.

"He’ll go to Sandown now for the Grade 1 King Henry VIII and then we’ll work back from the Arkle from there."

Skelton is sure that will improve for his seasonal return in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, where the three-time Grade One winner finished sixth behind . 

"He was very fresh for his first run of the season and ran with the choke out a bit," said the jockey. 

"He jumped great, and just took a big blow coming to three out before getting tired from the back of the last. Even so it was a really good performance off that weight. 

"I mentioned beforehand that I thought he would come on for the run and I think the way he ran confirmed that.

"The Peterborough Chase could be an option, but ultimately all roads lead back to the Ryanair.

Three-time hurdles winner lost his unbeaten record over hurdles when the 5/6F was beaten 11 lengths by the exciting at Grade Two level last Friday at Cheltenham, but Skelton is still prositive about the five-year-old's future prospects and indicates he could be one for a Festival handicap. 

Trying 2m5f for the first time, Skelton told Star Sports: "I think it was evident that he didn’t stay the extra half mile. 

"He jumped well, but just didn’t stay on the day and the winner was too good. Fair play to the winner, who looks a nice horse.

"We’ll dust ourselves down and drop back to two miles with him now. You never know, in the spring he might be lining up in the County Hurdle or something like that. 

"I still think he’s got a bright future, and he should make a chaser in time too."