SKELTON CAN DREAM OF GOLD CUP GLORY

Nick Townsend finds the brilliant young trainer thrilled by Protektorat

- Nick Townsend

Sometimes a horse produces a jumping exhibition so laden with promise it cannot fail to stir the soul of observers and fuel a sense of heady anticipation for its owner. Just the four runners contested the 2m 4f novice chase at Cheltenham’s November meeting, though all were quality performers. But it was Dan Skelton’s foot-perfect Protektorat who flowed over his obstacles to prevail by 17 lengths and brighten a gloomy afternoon in the Cotswolds.

It was a superb jumping exhibition that had part-owner John Hales, whose big-race winners include Azertyuiop, Politologue, and the 2012 Grand National victor Neptune Collonges, but never a Cheltenham Gold Cup, talking of making good that significant omission with the horse he has in partnership with his daughter Lisa, Ged Mason, and Sir Alex Ferguson.

A few days’ later, some trainers may have been tempted to downplay expectations. Yet, negativity is not in the Skelton lexicon, and the ebullient young trainer declares: “Why not think it? He’s been very good over fences twice. We’ve got an awful long way to go before that (a Gold Cup triumph). But what’s the harm in dreaming?”

After dismounting, Skelton’s jockey, younger brother Harry, told TV that it would be all about ‘little steps’ for the five-year-old import from France whose jumping he described as ‘unreal’.

While the trainer has no immediate plans for the gelding he could conceivably target the Dipper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. Looking further ahead, he is 16-1 for the Arkle and 20-1 for the Marsh Novices’ Chase at next year’s Cheltenham Festival.