Dan Skelton’s extraordinary campaign hit yet another milestone at Perth when his horse Heltenham secured a win, giving the trainer a victory at every jumps venue across Britain during the current season. This achievement caps a year that has seen Skelton inch ever closer to the ultimate prize of champion trainer, a goal that has eluded him despite amassing nearly £5 million in prize money so far. The historic moment came after Skelton collected his first trainer’s championship trophy at Sandown on Saturday. Earlier that day, he completed the remarkable feat of winning at all 41 National Hunt circuits, a quest that took him all the way up to the Highlands.
The final piece of the puzzle fell into place when his 15‑8 favourite, Heltenham, delivered a perfectly timed run in the Bedmax Capercaillie Handicap Chase, beating the opposition by one and three‑quarter lengths. Speaking to Racing TV after the race, Skelton could barely contain his excitement. “It’s quite incredible, isn’t it?
I’ve just loved every minute of it,” he said. “It wasn’t even on my radar at the start of the season – I only realised we were missing four tracks, and one of those was Musselburgh. I hadn’t planned to send a runner there because we rarely go to Musselburgh, but owner Jimmy Fyffe wanted to give Made U Blush a chance.
I told him we’d only have one runner, he said ‘Send her up’, and she won. That got me thinking – if we’re this close, why not give the remaining venues a go?” Skelton went on to explain the sheer effort required to hit the target.
“It took 21 runners to secure a win at Plumpton, and although Perth needed a few fewer, the whole journey has been a testament to the dedication of my team and the owners who have backed us,” he added. “I love this job. I sometimes set myself absurd or even ridiculous goals, but they keep me motivated and drive me to push the boundaries.” The Perth meeting offered several other memorable moments. No Drama This End capped his hurdling career on a high note, snapping a previous disappointment at Cheltenham by taking the Listed British EBF Gold Castle National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle.
Meanwhile, Paul Nicholls’ six‑year‑old, who had been the favourite for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival before being pulled up by Harry Cobden, rebounded spectacularly north of the border. The horse delivered JP McManus his 100th win of the season, a landmark in its own right.
Nicholls reflected on his horse’s progress: “I’m very happy. It’s nice to finish on a good note.
I know I can improve him further in the autumn. It hasn’t been easy to get him right, but he’s clearly a class horse. He won four of his five hurdle starts, and now he’ll switch to chasing in November.
He’s a strong stayer and will tackle three‑mile fences, though we haven’t decided where to start his chase career yet. He’ll be an exciting chaser, no doubt.” Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore also celebrated a major triumph as their mare Apple Away clinched a spot in the French Champion Hurdle by rallying late to win the Fair Maid of Perth Mares’ Chase. The race had been a tense affair; Skelton’s own Panic Attack, fresh from a Grand National exit at the third fence, was making every stride count as the field approached the final obstacle.
Apple Away appeared to be out of the running, but Derek Fox produced a stunning finishing effort from the 4‑1 shot, pulling ahead of Ruby Island by a length and a quarter to secure the victory. Russell was visibly moved after the win. “It’s amazing – I’m in tears as she comes out. She’s the most phenomenal mare I’ve ever trained.
I thought she was beaten, but her heart carried her through. I’ve never had a filly with such attitude and guts,” she said. “Allez Français! We’ve entered her for the French Champion Hurdle in three weeks.
Let’s see what she can do there.” The card also produced a treble for Olly Murphy. His horse Gee Force Flyer captured the Welcome To The Perth Festival Maiden Hurdle, followed by Barlovento’s win in the Balnakeilly Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase, and Atlantic City’s success in the Scone Palace Mares’ Handicap Hurdle. Each of these victories added depth to an already eventful meeting and highlighted the breadth of talent present at Perth. Overall, Skelton’s season has been defined by relentless ambition, meticulous planning, and a willingness to seize opportunities even when they arise in unexpected places.
From the early days of chasing a championship title to the final triumph at Perth that completed his circuit sweep, the trainer’s journey exemplifies the combination of hard work, strategic thinking, and a bit of serendipity that characterises top‑level National Hunt racing. As the season draws to a close, the racing community will be watching closely to see whether Skelton can convert his historic achievements into the ultimate accolade of champion trainer, a goal that now seems well within reach given his record‑breaking run of successes.