Champion jumps trainer Dan Skelton has declared he is 'on track' in his quest to beat Martin Pipe's single-season record of 243 wins. Skelton captured his first British jumps trainers' championship title in April after outbattling Ireland's champion Willie Mullins.
Record pursuit after title triumph
His next goal is to overtake Pipe, the 15-time champion who accomplished his incredible 243 feat in 1999-2000, after exceeding 200 wins in a campaign eight times. Skelton's most prolific season was in 2018-19 when he sent out 205 winners, while during his championship-winning season he trained 194 winners and set an earnings record of £5 million.
Up to Thursday the Warwickshire trainer has trained 92 winners, with the core period of the jumps campaign set to kick off this weekend with the three-day Welsh Racing Festival at Chepstow.
'Summer horses have been fantastic'
Ladbrokes ambassador Skelton said: "Things are going really well and our target to beat Martin Pipe's record feels on track."
"The summer ground has stuck around longer than we might have liked, but our summer horses have been fantastic. Most of them have probably reached the end of what they can give for now, but they've risen through the handicaps and performed brilliantly."
"To have 92 winners on the board already is quite remarkable. They might add a few more before the month is out, but it's very much over to the autumn team now."
Chepstow plans and ground concerns
The Chepstow fixture will feature no races over fences due to continued dry weather, a factor Skelton has had to take on board for his running plans.
He added: "It's a bit of a juggling act at the moment, keeping some of the summer horses going while the autumn horses begin to come out. We're travelling all over the place in search of the right ground conditions, but the target we're aiming for still feels very much achievable."
Skelton also discussed his runners for Friday's opening day at Chepstow.
Cooltobecareless & Goliath Flight (1.22) - "I think Cooltobecareless will go very nicely here. King's Scholar looks the one to beat after a good summer campaign, but our horse was second at this meeting last year and I'd like to think he can run at least as well again."
"Goliath Flight probably underwhelmed when he ran in a bumper at Stratford, but he was still a young four-year-old then and we perhaps shouldn't have run him. He's worked nicely at home and, with decent ground available, we need to get these horses started somewhere. They both have to begin their seasons."
Dutch Corner & Short Sell (1.57) - "Short Sell didn't run as well as we'd hoped first time out and he'll need to step forward from that performance. Dutch Corner won over hurdles for us and finished sixth in the Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final at Sandown. He's got some solid form and should be competitive."
Knickerbockerglory, Kateira, Listentoyourheart & Le Beau Madrik (3.12) - "I think both Kateira and Knickerbockerglory are a little high in the handicap at the moment, although they both need to get their seasons started. Kateira enjoys good ground, while Knickerbockerglory would probably prefer a bit more cut but always tends to run his race in these big handicaps."
"Listentoyourheart was third in this race last year and should run well again, although I don't think any of those three are particularly ahead of the handicapper."
"Le Beau Madrik is the one who could be very interesting. He was a good novice last season and the drop back in trip should suit for his first start of the campaign on a big galloping track. We've trained him for this and I think he'll go very well."
North Shore (3.43) - "North Shore is a new horse for us who won in Ireland before joining the yard. Two and a half miles looks a suitable trip and we've trained him specifically for this race. It's a competitive renewal, so I wouldn't say he's the one to beat, but I'd expect him to be there or thereabouts."
Typhoon Warrior (4.17) - "I think he'll want further in time, but it's a good opportunity to get him started over two miles on a galloping track. At this stage of the season we're largely dictated by where the suitable ground is."
Mostly Sunny (4.55) - "He's been off the track for well over a year, but the ground conditions are ideal to get him started again. I'd expect him to improve for the run."
Burning Embers & Sheezer Diva (5.31) - "Both horses will probably improve for the outing, but there isn't much suitable ground elsewhere at the moment. We need to get their seasons under way and this looks the right place to start."
