Dan Skelton's Final Frontier: Plumpton and Perth Remain Elusive in Historic Season
Dan Skelton, the soon-to-be-crowned champion jumps trainer in the United Kingdom, has achieved victory at an astonishing 39 out of 41 British jumps racecourses during this remarkable season. However, two tracks continue to evade his winning touch: Plumpton and Perth. With meetings scheduled at both venues in the coming days, Skelton is determined to complete what would be an unprecedented clean sweep of all National Hunt courses in a single campaign.
Record-Breaking Campaign Nears Completion
Already assured of his first champion trainer title, Skelton has rewritten the record books this season by becoming the first trainer to surpass £4 million in prize money during a British jumps campaign. The stable now sets its sights on the £5 million milestone, requiring just £200,000 more to reach that extraordinary figure. This weekend, Skelton will dispatch five runners to Ayr's Scottish Grand National meeting, hoping to make significant progress toward that financial landmark.
The statistical anomaly of Plumpton and Perth stands out starkly against Skelton's otherwise dominant season. From 20 combined runners at these two tracks, including several heavily-favored contenders, the yard has failed to secure a single victory. This Sunday presents a fresh opportunity at Plumpton, where the stable has two entries in the featured Sussex Stayers' Handicap Hurdle.
Scottish Grand National Takes Center Stage
While Skelton pursues his course completion goal, the racing world's attention turns to Ayr for the Scottish Grand National. This race has proven pivotal in recent trainers' championship battles, though this year's outcome appears more settled with Willie Mullins having conceded the title race. Mullins, who has achieved the remarkable Grand National double at Aintree and Ayr for two consecutive years, fields just one runner this Saturday as he attempts to secure this unique treble.
Patrick Mullins takes the ride on Road To Home, who finished within a length of victory in last month's Fulke Walwyn/Kim Muir Chase at Cheltenham. However, the gelding carries 6 pounds more weight this weekend, potentially compromising his chances against a competitive field.
Expert Analysis and Weekend Selections
Racing analysts have identified several strong contenders across Saturday's cards. At Ayr, King Of Answers emerges as a particularly compelling selection for the Scottish Grand National. Trained locally by Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore, this runner finished second in Cheltenham's National Hunt Chase last month and now competes with just a 3-pound weight increase. The extended four-mile distance could elicit further improvement from this progressive stayer.
Elsewhere on the Ayr card, Traprain Law appears well-positioned in the opening race, having previously demonstrated an affinity for the course and distance. Diamond Dealer should appreciate the testing conditions in the 1.45 contest, while Gibbs Island seeks redemption after an unlucky run in Cheltenham's County Hurdle.
At Newbury, Touleen returns to a more suitable track after struggling with Newmarket's undulations last season. Zavateri represents a solid option in the 2.00 race, having performed credibly in top juvenile company last autumn. Pride Of Arras, last year's Dante Stakes winner, attempts to maintain his perfect seasonal debut record, while Back In Black brings promising progression potential to the 3.10 event.
Skelton's Determination to Complete the Set
"It's never been done before so we're going to give it our best shot," Skelton declared on Friday regarding his attempt to win at all 41 British jumps tracks. "We just can't quite seem to get over the line at Plumpton, but maybe Sunday will be the day that we do."
This pursuit of perfection encapsulates Skelton's record-breaking season, where statistical milestones have fallen regularly. The stable's Twistthenightaway seeks a hat-trick of victories at Ayr on Saturday, carrying a 6-pound penalty following a comfortable win at Bangor in February.
As the jumps season reaches its climax, all eyes will be on whether Skelton can finally conquer his remaining bogey tracks while continuing to rewrite the record books. The simultaneous drama of the Scottish Grand National adds another layer of excitement to a weekend that promises to deliver compelling racing narratives across multiple venues.
