Any Cheltenham fixture tends to attract the leading lights of the British training scene, and such is the case ahead of the 2025 November Meeting. One man who is represented more than most is Warwickshire’s Dan Skelton.
Having finished second to Willie Mullins in the past two British Trainers’ Championships, Skelton has his eye on going one better in 2025/26. He has started well, earning £394,815 in October – over £90,000 more than the same month in 2024. With Mullins sure to come with a springtime surge, Skelton will be eager to increase the size of his early cushion.
With the title race in mind, it is no surprise that Skelton has a bumper 35 early entries across the three days of the November Meeting. When asked to comment on which runners we are likely to see at Prestbury Park, Skelton stated simply, “I’ll try and run everything that’s entered really.”
As such, punters looking to side with Skelton over the weekend aren’t short of options. While it is never wise to rule out any runner hailing from Lodge Hill, the early betting markets suggest the following quintet are among the most likely to take Skelton to the Cheltenham Winners’ Enclosure.
Friday: Be Aware – Sun’s “Save Our Bets” Novices’ Chase
With just one placed runner in the past decade, this Listed contest hasn’t been a particularly happy hunting ground for Skelton. Be Aware is the horse tasked with improving that record in 2025.
This son of Martaline scored highly for consistency over hurdles, finishing in the first three in six of eight outings, including a close second in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at this meeting. Those efforts saw him start as the favourite in the Coral Cup here and the William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Aintree, only to trail home in eighth each time.
The early evidence from 2025/26 suggests the summer break may have helped Be Aware rediscover his best form. Sent to Stratford for his chase debut in October, he made light of a mark of 136 to score by an easy four lengths. Now up to 142, he lies behind only the Anthony Honeyball-trained Leave Of Absence on ratings and has his chance in an open renewal.
Friday: L’Eau du Sud – Shloer Chase
Skelton claimed back-to-back editions of this 2m Grade 2 event with Nube Negra in 2021 and 2022. Another win this year will take him to within one of Nicky Henderson at the top of the Shloer Chase trainers’ table.
There is a lot to like about the claims of L’Eau du Sud, as the seven-year-old makes his first start outside novice company. He is already a winner over course and distance, having run away with the Arkle Trial at this meeting in 2024. He then proved his Grade 1 credentials when claiming the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown before finishing a close fourth in the Arkle itself.
There is, however, a significant obstacle standing in L’Eau du Sud’s way, and he goes by the name of Jonbon. Nicky Henderson’s 10-time Grade 1 winner has claimed the past two editions of this and is odds on to land the hat-trick.
Saturday: Precious Man – JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial Juvenile Hurdle
Early Triumph Hurdle clues are on display in a race Skelton claimed for the only time with Allmankind in 2019. As tends to be the case in these early-season juvenile events, it is difficult to assess the merits of the contenders – James Owen’s Hallelujah U heads the betting despite never having jumped a hurdle in public.
Precious Man has run over hurdles, albeit not for Skelton. Formerly based in France with Daniela Mele, he finished second on debut and went one better to break his duck second time out at Auteuil. Two of those to finish behind him have since won, lending a solid look to the form.
Sunday: Protektorat – Oddschecker Handicap Chase
Now closing in on his 10th birthday, the admirable and talented Protektorat is firmly established among the Skelton stable stars. Winning eight times since making his debut for the yard in 2018, he has amassed £912,869 in prize money and has a realistic chance of breaking through the £1 million barrier this season.
Last sighted chasing Jonbon home in the Grade 1 Melling Chase at the Aintree Grand National meeting, he drops down to handicap company for his seasonal return. Protektorat had a similar reintroduction last season when sixth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at this meeting, with connections hoping this 3m3½f trip may see him in a better light.
Sunday: Lorika – mallardjewellers.com Maiden Hurdle
James Owen’s 2024 Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly is easily the most intriguing contender in the opening event on Day 3. In common with his stablemate Hallelujah U, he currently heads the betting despite never having raced over obstacles. If he can transfer his flat class to this discipline, he could be hard to beat. Skelton leads the opposition, with another runner formerly based in France.
By established jumps sire Cokoriko, and progressing from National Hunt Flat races to hurdles, Loriko has followed a more conventional route to this point than Ambiente Friendly. He will need to improve on his two third-placed efforts since joining Skelton in September but may appreciate the likely softer conditions.
