Harry Skelton column: The New Lion, Grey Dawning and Maestro Conti updates

Star Sports ambassador and leading rider Harry Skelton looks back on a record-breaking weekend for the team, and ahead to Festival plans for some of their Trials Day runners.

Last weekend was a landmark one for Dan and I as we became the winning-most trainer and jockey partnership when Maestro Conti won at Cheltenham, making it 1,273 wins we’ve had together.

The support that Dan has given me, helping me ride so many winners is quite something. When you look at all the connections that have amassed so many winners together, it’s some going! It’s something we’re very proud of.

We were obviously very happy to get the job done and see him put in a nice, clear round of jumping. It was a falsely run race, but he quickened up smartly when asked and I think he showed that he has plenty of gears. Hopefully he goes to the Champion Hurdle with every chance.

It was so unfortunate for connections of Sir Gino. No one wants to see that to happen but horses are athletes and they do get injured. We just hope that he’s alright and that he makes a full recovery. 

I felt like he was coming there to make a challenge, but he made a mistake at a crucial time two out. It was quite hard work in the home straight and perhaps he got stuck in the mud a little bit. He did stick at it though and galloped through the line well. We wanted to come with one run and produce him with a late challenge, so I didn’t want to get involved in the race too soon and give him a hard time. If it wasn’t for the mistake at the second last, I think I would have come there and challenged after the final fence, so it was a bit unfortunate. 

He hadn’t been seen since Haydock, so it was good to get him out and get a run into him. From that perspective, it’s job done, and all roads now lead to the Gold Cup. I think it’s an open race this year and if he comes into the race in the form he was in heading to Haydock, then he will have every chance of being right in contention. 

He was keen enough through the race but got the job done well. He’s got a good appetite for racing – he jumps well and stays strongly – which is a big help for a juvenile. He was pulling clear and was well on top by the end, so it was a nice performance. 

We’ll have a crack at the Triumph Hurdle now. That’s going to be a little bit different as it will be run at a stronger pace, which should help him settle better. He looks a really nice horse for the future and we very much see him as a stayer further down the line.