'It's very sweet' - Skeltons savour their day of history as first trainers' title sealed
READ IT: Trainer Dan Skelton celebrates after becoming the first trainer to surpass ÂŁ5 million in prize money in a season at Sandown Park Racecourse. Pic: Steven Paston/PA Wire
When you are raised by an Olympic champion and nurtured by one of the finest National Hunt trainers in history, some would say it was destiny Dan Skelton would one day hold the championship aloft.
Willie Mullins did his best to delay the inevitable for two seasons, but all the master of Closutton did was fuel the hunger of a man born to be at the top of his craft.
Mullins was quick to wave the white flag of surrender on Grand National day, allowing Skelton a victory parade that would culminate at Sandown, where while he fittingly received the championship trophy from Paul Nicholls, father Nick Skelton was proudly watching on.
He said: “It’s been an incredible season and Dan is a leader of a brilliant team. I am very proud.
“I’ve won gold medals and yes that was great, but they are underneath what the boys have achieved.
“Those two years being beaten by Willie has just put fuel on the fire really and inspired him to kick on this term.
“He’s a great planner and that’s a lot of it really, he’s a good horseman and knows his horses well.
“He did a great apprenticeship with the best man, who is there handing him the trophy. That’s what you need these days and I think Paul will be very proud of him. Paul taught him everything and would probably say he taught him too much.” Skelton may have some way to go to match his mentor Nicholls’ 14 titles, but the Ditcheat handler never had any doubt the day he would have to shake his former apprentice’s hand would come, predicting further domination for the next few years.
“I’m proud of what he’s achieved and it was always going to happen from the moment he left me,” said Nicholls.
“I could see what his dad’s vision was and they’ve done so well. I always said I would be the first one over to shake his hand and it was great I could hand over the trophy. That was a pleasure and a honour in itself.
“He will be hard to beat now for the next few years and it’s fantastic for them all, it’s an unbelievable achievement.”Â
It was five years ago that Harry Skelton was receiving the accolades when picking up the champion jockey trophy, but he cut an ecstatic figure having helped his brother pass ÂŁ5million in prize-money for the season when winning the Oaksey Chase aboard Doyen Quest.
He said: “It’s just been an incredible season and I’m overwhelmed to be honest.
“This is a very special day and I’m very proud of Dan and also the whole team behind him.
“There’s days in your life you don’t remember, but I will definitely remember this one, it’s very sweet.”
