- The co -owner of Protektorat, John Hales, a leader in the field, died at 85 in January
- Skelton expects Protekratrat to pay tribute to Hales at the Cheltenham Festival
- He says that Protektorat is in his “best form” despite being an older horse
Dan Skelton expects Protektorat to give an emotional victory in Cheltenham next month while preparing to send his best team to the festival.
Although Kempton organizes a competitive card on Saturday afternoon with a series of informative races, especially the Ladbrokes Chase (3.35), all eyes are attracted to Cheltenham, with the extravagance of four days from March 11.
Skelton, who is saving his ambition to become a champion coach for the first time, believes that the Nuevo León has the strongest potential to win in Cheltenham and will face the final demand, the favorite of Willie Mullins's Yard, in Turners' rookies' ' Obstacle.
But the most moving success for Skelton would come from Protektorat. It is owned by a union that includes Sir Alex Ferguson, but will run in the yellow colors of John Hales, who died last month. The co -owner Hales was a great defender of National Hunt Racing for 30 years.
L'Uu Du Sud, in the Arkle, will also run for Hales, but it is Protektorat, who roared to train in Windsor last month, which entails a great affection in the courtyard of Skelton and is in the target to defend his title of Ryanair Chase.
“We are very lucky to have Protektorat,” said Skelton, who spoke on an open morning organized by the Jockey Club.
Dan Skelton expects Protektorat to give him an emotional victory in Cheltenham after the death of co -owner John Hales
Protektorat is not the favorite for the Festival of the masterpiece, but Skelton says that “he has never been so good”
Hales was present when Protektorat won in Windsor and is described as a “fabulous man”
'Not only is your talent what it is, but its resolution and desire are of high quality. That is what gives it the ability to run so well in these races and why it has longevity.
'He has a great opportunity at Ryanair. He goes to Cheltenham to an older horse, but he is certainly not a minor horse. If you have more to give, you will give it in three weeks. He has never been so good.
'John (Hales) was there when he won in Windsor and that was magical. John loved all his horses and never went to the races waiting to lose! He was just a fabulous man.
The aspirations of the Skelton title were frustrated last season, but it has had its chain in excellent shape throughout the year and its best possibilities on the KEMPTON card this afternoon will be Bombawn (1.50) and Heltenham (3.35).
Both will be mounted by his brother, Harry, who aims to win the David Power Jockeys Cup. “We have the best team we have had, but if that takes the results it is a different matter,” Skelton said. We are in a great position.