How To Bet £20 on Gold Cup Day: Team Skelton hold key
By Andy Stephens
Last Updated: Fri 13 Mar 2026
Dan Skelton looks certain to be crowned champion trainer for the first time next month and he has prospects of capping what has already been a superb Cheltenham Festival for him and his team in spectacular fashion on Friday.
I fancy Grey Dawning could give him his proudest moment yet by landing the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup and would not be surprised if Maestro Conti, Sinnatra and Panic Attack (Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase) strike for the yard beforehand.
And if he does, he will have single-handedly ensured Britain get at least a share of the Prestbury Park spoils. The home team trail 11-10 heading into the final seven races, which means they have already had as many winners as in the past six years.
Skelton has contributed two victories to the cause, courtesy of handicap plot jobs Madara and Supremely West. It’s one thing having a well-handicapped horse and quite another avoiding all the usual banana skins along the way, with Dan’s brother, Harry, surely riding better than ever, riding a wave of pressure to get them home.
Overall, Skelton Sr has had 20 runners over the first three days of the meeting and nine have won or finished in the first four. His horses are flying, with Mydaddypaddy, L’Eau Du Sud and Kabral Du Mathan all flirting with Grade One glory before coming up short.
The Gold Cup has been the plan all season for Grey Dawning and there won’t be a fresher horse in the line-up. The general 14-1 on offer looks chunky.
He won the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November without coming off the bridle and wasn’t subjected to anything like a hard race when third in a steadily run Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham on Trials Day in late January.
Connections pondered withdrawing him that day because of the deep ground but seemed to opt for Plan B – hold him up; look after him and see what occurs, keeping the bigger day in mind.
What did occur was a slow-run race and Grey Dawning being out of his ground when the pace finally picked up. And that was compounded by his error two out, after which Harry Skelton let him come home in his own time. What was encouraging was the way his mount finished off under his own steam, seemingly having plenty left in the locker. Those who thought he was a good thing that day, including me, were left paying the price, but as a prep it was “job done”.
He's a much better horse than that, promises to stay and is proven in the Festival cauldron, winning final edition of the Turners two years ago. He was superb that day, with the RaceiQ data revealing he gained ground at all bar one of the 16 fences. He swiped a dozen lengths and if he can show similar athleticism, then the others could be in trouble.
It's not quite the epic it promised to be with Fact To File and Galopin Des Champs not taking part, and I’ve got doubts over the stamina of The Jukebox Man and Jango Baie. Inothewaurthinkin seemed to leave a bit of his spirit at Cheltenham last year, while Haiti Couleur’s jumping may not be up to the task, and the admirable Envoi Allen will have to break all kinds of trends to win the race at the first attempt, aged 12.
Spillane’s Tower and Gaelic Warrior do command respect, although the latter’s defeat of Grey Dawning at Aintree last spring may be a red herring.
Maestro Conti, quoted at 7-1, can get the Skeltons off to a flyer by landing the opening JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.20).
The unbeaten French recruit hacked up at Kempton over Christmas and impressed when winning on Trials Day, quickening up smartly despite being too keen in the first half of the contest and Skelton Jr counting to at least 30 before finally asking him to engage top gear.
That form looks strong, too, as One Horse Town, the runner-up, was seeking a fifth win of the season, and Minella Yoga, the third, who was getting 3lb, had previously beaten Act Of Innocence, who ran so well when runner-up in the Turners on Wednesday. And the fifth home has since waltzed home in the Adonis.
Skelton has landed the William Hill County Hurdle four times in the past decade, plus had near misses, and Sinnatra can do things his way in the latest renewal.
This probably has not been one of Skelton’s long-term projects as he had to run him in a novices’ hurdle at Warwick late last month to ensure he met the qualification criteria. The strong traveller won easily but and I imagine all involved with the six-year-old were relieved when the handicapper left him on a mark of 133.
Sinnatra’s only defeats this term have come in races won by Act Of Innocnce (twice) and Captain Hugo. As already mentioned, the former ran a blinder in defeat here on Wednesday, while the latter is now rated 135 after landing the Morebattle Hurdle.
A mark of 133 may well underestimate Sinnatra and he’s been well punted in the past 24 hours. Tellherthename is also interesting on his first start for the yard but looks the stable’s No 2.
Panic Attack’s price for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase has shrunk and shrunk in recent weeks, and such is the momentum behind her that she may even go off favourite.
I’d have her market leader in any case because she’s been awesome in her three races this term and, by all accounts, is in the form of her life at home. Her jumping at Newbury last time was a sight to savour and she gets 3lb from Dinoblue, who will be defending her crown.
Skelton is also represented by Nurse Susan in the closing Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle, but the Willie Mullins-trained Jump Allen is more interesting.
He’s been off 321 days but Mullins is making a habit of winning Festival races with horses who have had similar breaks, and fitness is unlikely to be an issue.
Jump Allen signed off last season with a decisive success at Sandown’s Finale Meeting and, having had only six runs, remains completely unexposed. Anna McGuiness boasts five winners from 14 rides for the yard and has got the call.
How To Bet £20 on Gold Cup Day
OPTION ONE
1.20 Cheltenham: Maestro Conti £2 win and £1 each-way at a general 7-1 (four places)
2.00 Cheltenham: Sinnatra £3 win at 11-2 with bet365
2.40: Cheltenham: Panic Attack £3 win at a general 5-2
4.00 Cheltenham: Grey Dawning £3 each-way at a general 14-1
5.20: Cheltenham: Jump Allen at £3 win 9-1 with Unibet (five places)
Plus a 50p each-way accumulator
OPTION TWO
£1 Lucky Fifteen
1.20 Cheltenham: Maestro Conti
2.00 Cheltenham: Sinnatra
2.40: Cheltenham: Panic Attack
4.00 Cheltenham: Grey Dawning
Plus a 19p Super Yankee
Above quartet plus
5.20: Cheltenham: Jump Allen
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