Emotional Victory for Jockey Following Family Joy
Jockey Harry Skelton experienced an intensely emotional victory at Haydock on Saturday as his star chaser Grey Dawning secured a commanding win in the prestigious £200,000 Betfair Chase. The triumph came just two days after Skelton's wife, Bridget, gave birth to their daughter, Anna, on Thursday, creating a powerful moment of personal and professional celebration.
Grey Dawning Reverses Fortunes in Style
The feature race developed into a compelling rematch between last year's top two finishers. Grey Dawning, who had been defeated by Royale Pagaille in the 2024 running, turned the tables spectacularly. In the closing stages, the classy grey chaser powered clear, easing to a convincing two-and-three-quarter length victory over his gallant rival, with Handstands finishing close behind.
Skelton was visibly moved following the race, coming close to tears as he reflected on an extraordinary few days. "Last year just didn't work out when the heavens opened but today he was brilliant," the jockey stated. He paid tribute to the team behind the horse, specifically mentioning Clare and Tom Messenger, the assistant who rides Grey Dawning daily.
Family and Sport Combine for Perfect Weekend
"It's all been going on – we had the birth of our daughter Anna," Skelton shared. "I'm really proud of Bridget and just really looking forward to getting home to be honest! Sportsmen are used to everything, high emotions, but when your wife gives birth and they are all alright that's all that matters. To do this on the sportsfield is what we want to do and the horses are in flying form."
The significant win added £113,870 to the prize money total for trainer Dan Skelton, who leads the trainers' table having amassed more than £1.2 million since April. Dan Skelton expressed his pride in both the horse and his brother's performance during an emotionally charged period.
"I thought he was going to put up a big performance today and he did just that," the trainer said, assessing his chaser's display. "We are a year late for what we thought was going to happen last year, but the rain really did us in last year. It was great to watch today. Harry is very emotional as he's got through an incredible 48 hours. To do that for Robert Kirkland – he's a phenomenal owner. Owners are the most important thing about this game and to be able to give one or two of them days like this is just great."
