Dan Skelton's exceptional season has reached new heights at Perth, with Heltenham's win marking a significant achievement, as Skelton becomes the first trainer to secure a victory at every jumps track in Britain this term. This remarkable feat comes after Skelton was narrowly thwarted by Willie Mullins in the previous two years, and it solidifies his position as a top contender for the champion trainer title, with nearly £5million in prize money won.
Prior to receiving the trophy for the first time at Sandown on Saturday, Skelton accomplished the impressive task of sending out a winner at all 41 National Hunt circuits during his visit to the Highlands. Earlier in the day, Skelton's Tormund Giantsbane and Panic Attack were narrowly beaten, but his brother Harry gave 15-8 favourite Heltenham the perfect ride, expertly timing his challenge to secure a win in the Bedmax Capercaillie Handicap Chase by one and three-quarter lengths. Regarding this achievement, Skelton expressed his thoughts to Racing TV, saying, "It's quite incredible, isn't it? I've just loved it.
It's something I didn't ever have on the agenda, but I noticed there were only four tracks missing for the season, and one of them was Musselburgh. I wasn't going to bother because we don't send any runners to Musselburgh really, and (owner) Jimmy Fyffe said he wanted Made U Blush to run at Musselburgh, and I told him it'd be the only runner. 'Send her up' he said, and she won, and then I thought maybe if we're this close, maybe we should give it a go.
It took 21 runners to get a winner at Plumpton. Luckily, it's taken a few less at Perth, but I'm in awe of my team and all of the owners that have supported us to do it and willed us on to do it.
I love doing this job. I sometimes set myself silly or ridiculous targets, but it's a motivator for me." Elsewhere on the card, No Drama This End brought his hurdling career to a perfect close, gaining redemption for his Cheltenham disappointment with a victory in the Listed British EBF Gold Castle 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle. Paul Nicholls' six-year-old was sent off as the favourite for the Turners Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival when pulled up by Harry Cobden, but it was a different story north of the border, as he gave the soon-to-be JP McManus number one a 100th victory of the season.
Nicholls told Racing TV, "I'm very happy. It was just nice to finish on a good note. I know I can get him way better than he is today in the autumn. It's not been easy to get him really right.
He's obviously a class horse, and he won't run over hurdles again; that's it, he'll go chasing in November. He's a really strong stayer, and he will run over three miles over fences, but I don't know where we'll start. He's only run five times over hurdles, and he's won four, and he's always going to be an exciting chaser, that's his future." Additionally, there was a victory for Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore's Apple Away, who secured her spot in the French Champion Hurdle by rallying late to win the Fair Maid Of Perth Mares' Chase. It was Skelton's Panic Attack, making a quick return after exiting the Grand National at the third fence, that had made every yard as they went over the final fence, with Apple Away looking to be out of contention.
However, Derek Fox conjured up a fine finishing effort from the 4-1 chance to come home a length and a quarter clear of Ruby Island and secure a second victory in the race. Russell said, "It's amazing, I've just been in tears as she's walked out. She is the most phenomenal mare.
I thought she was beaten, and then her heart just takes her through. She's great, I've never had a horse, a filly like her attitude and guts. Allez Francais.
We've got her entered in the French Champion Hurdle, it's just over three weeks away. Let's see if she can go there." Olly Murphy enjoyed a treble on the card, as Gee Force Flyer took the Welcome To The Perth Festival Maiden Hurdle, followed by Barlovento landing the Balnakeilly Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, and Atlantic City delivering in the Scone Palace Mares' Handicap Hurdle.