The Skelton yard has gone from “dangerous in handicaps” to a fully-fledged Grade 1 operation. This guide to Dan Skelton horses to follow 2025/26 shows why the stable is now producing graded stars as well as handicap winners.
There was also a serious title duel that went all the way to Sandown in late April. That momentum matters. It shows the system is working: placement, fitness, and peak-day execution. Expect more of the same in 2025/26 — and this guide to Dan Skelton horses to follow 2025/26 will help you plan your betting calendar around it.
Below I’ve split the shortlist of National Hunt horses to follow into Established stars, Second-season chasers & improvers, Novice chasers to follow, Handicap weapons, and Dark horses. The categories make it easier to map targets and “time of year” angles — because Skelton is excellent at getting the right horse red-hot for the right week.
We’ll keep this guide updated as Dan Skelton’s horses run throughout the 2025/26 jumps season — check back every week for fresh results, performances and betting insights.
Established stars from Dan Skelton horses to follow 2025/26
Protektorat — still the 2½–3m Grade 1 yardstick
If you thought the 2024 Ryanair was a one-off drop-in-trip experiment, it wasn’t; it was a blueprint. Protektorat showed you can stalk a fierce pace over 2m4½f at Cheltenham and still finish like a three-miler. This season the plan will again revolve around the top 2½m races — with flexibility to dip back to 3m if a deep, galloping track makes it a stamina test. For punters: he’s a spring horse who is most potent after one or two sharpener runs; his “win profile” remains Grade 1 at 2m4–2m5 on good-to-soft or better, especially on left-handed tracks. Likely marquee aims: Ascot Chase/Kempton options mid-winter as tune-ups; Ryanair defence in March; then Aintree’s Melling if the horse is bouncing.
Where to catch him at his best: February–April; Cheltenham (Ryanair) and Aintree. These early-season stars set the tone for our shortlist of Dan Skelton horses to follow 2025/26.
Grey Dawning — the Gold Cup project
Last season’s Turners winner looked every inch a thorough stayer in the making. He shaped like a horse who can grow into a proper Gold Cup type with another campaign of experience. He’s scopey, he jumps well, and he finds plenty under pressure.
Importantly, you can expect a route built around Grade 1 or Grade 2 staying chases through the winter, with the spring festivals as the main targets. If the ground turns testing, his relentless gallop becomes an asset. On better ground, his slick jumping can put pressure on rivals from a long way out.
For betting purposes, don’t be surprised if he’s trained to peak a little later. Aintree could really suit him. He has already shown he can turn a Festival near-miss into a big-day win only three weeks later
Where to catch him at his best: Late winter to spring; 2m7f–3m+; Cheltenham/Aintree.
If you are interested in expanding your tracker beyond the Skelton yard, we have also compiled a full guide to the horses to follow for the 2025/26 jumps season, covering top names from other leading trainers. It’s a useful complement to this Skelton-focused list.
Second-season chasers & improvers
L’Eau Du Sud — electric two-miler stepping into open company
Last season he went four from four over fences and looked like one of Britain’s sharpest two-mile novices. He jumps fast, lands running, and shows tactical gears — exactly what is needed for the top 2m races on good ground.
The Arkle and trial form already stack up, and connections have long believed fences would unlock his full potential. Now the challenge is to translate that promise into the open Grade 1 scene. In practice, that could mean a Tingle Creek-type race if the program suits, followed by the spring Grade 1s at Cheltenham or Aintree.
From a betting perspective, he is at his best when allowed to get a lead and quicken off it. However, he is less effective on very deep ground unless the pace collapses in front.
Peak window: November trials; March–April Grade 1s.
West Balboa — class mare switching to fences (and loving it)
West Balboa was a high-class hurdler who landed a valuable Aintree Premier Handicap in 2024. Since then, the team have schooled her with clear intent for a novice chasing campaign.
Her early chase work was encouraging. Even though she took a blow late on debut, she still showed that she enjoys a fence. She now looks like a 2m4f mare who will eventually stay 3m once fully tuned.
In terms of placement, the team may aim at the better mares’ novice chases through mid-winter. After that, they can decide whether to tackle open Grade 1 company in the spring. Crucially, she is talented enough to land a valuable prize once the jumping clicks into place.
Peak window: December–March; left-handed tracks; 2m4f.
Kateira — mares’ hurdles queenmaker… or a sneaky graded player
Kateira gave Skelton a title-race boost when winning the William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Aintree. Since then, she has continued trending in the right direction. She travels well, finds under pressure, and shows enough versatility at 2m4f to be placed cleverly through the winter before a spring hike in class.
She looks the type to win a deep handicap off a revised mark on her way to a graded mares’ race. If the yard decide to keep her over hurdles, the Mares’ Hurdle path is obvious. On the other hand, if she switches to fences later, expect a cautious start followed by a step up in mid-season.
Overall, whichever route they choose, she remains a mare to follow very closely.
Peak window: January–April; 2m4f.
Update – November 1, 2025
Kateira made a winning start to her 2025/26 jumps campaign at Wetherby, taking a small but high-class 2m Class 1 contest featuring just two runners—her rival being Golden Ace. Sent off at 2/1 with an OR of 145, she survived a mistake at the fifth hurdle before asserting control and pulling clear comfortably. Benefiting from her opponent’s below-par effort, she still did everything right herself and looked sharp enough to suggest more to come this season.
Novice chasers to follow
The New Lion — cool head, big engine, novice champion vibes
The New Lion is unbeaten in his early career and has been talked about with genuine enthusiasm by the trainer. On media days, he has even been described as the yard’s best chance when spring targets were being discussed. That shows the internal expectation is very high.
He jumps well, relaxes in his races, and has a “big day” mentality. Those are ideal qualities for graded novice hurdles, with a chasing career soon after.
Looking ahead to 2025/26, he should reappear early in the season to set up a Challow or Haydock-style test. After that, a spring push at 2m4f looks likely. Ultimately, he could be the one who graduates to fences next autumn as a leading novice chaser.
Peak window: Late autumn trial → spring target; 2m4f.
Boombawn — the slick jumper with Wincanton/Warwick written all over him
Boombawn is a smooth-moving type who made a notable splash in the novice chase ranks before holding his own in high-class company.
When he finds a clean rhythm on a speed-favouring track, he becomes very hard to peg back. In practical terms, you can expect Wincanton or Warwick placements, followed by a possible tilt at a Listed or Grade 2 when the yard sense a soft opportunity.
From a betting perspective, Boombawn performs best on good to soft or better when he has a proper lead to tow him into the race. However, he is less effective in deep winter slogs, so timing your support matters.
Peak window: November–February; 2m3f–2m4f.
Update (26 October 2025): Boombawn made his seasonal reappearance at Aintree in a Class 1 event, finishing fourth of seven. Sent off at 11/4 off a mark of 153, he couldn’t quite land a blow this time, coming home behind Hitman, Madeter Chewy, and Minella Drama. It wasn’t his day, but with fitness likely to sharpen him up, he should come forward for the run once fully tuned.
Among the most exciting names in the full list of Dan Skelton horses to follow 2025/26, these novices could easily develop into graded contenders.
Handicap weapons (plots you actually want to follow)
Unexpected Party — Grand Annual hero with another big day in him
Cheltenham’s Grand Annual fell perfectly for him thanks to a strong pace, smooth jumping, and a perfectly timed challenge.
However, his 2025/26 campaign didn’t start as planned. In his seasonal debut at Cheltenham’s squareintheair.com Handicap Chase (2m, Class 2) on October 24th, he never looked comfortable and was well beaten. Still, the yard struck gold in the same race thanks to Calico, who jumped fluently and powered clear up the hill — a clear sign that the stable’s handicappers are already in top order.
Looking ahead, the plan is to work back from the same race while collecting rating-friendly spins and prize money on the way. He is the type to keep a rival like Jonbon honest in small-field Grade 1s without damaging his handicap mark too much.
Typically, the pattern is clear: early-season sharpness, mid-season stealth, and a spring peak. That is the classic Skelton handicapping template. For punters, the best angle is to play each-way in deep handicaps over 2m–2m1f, because he finishes off strongly every time.
Peak window: March (Cheltenham), April (Aintree).
Update – October 26, 2025
Unexpected Party began his 2025/26 jumps season at Cheltenham on October 24, finishing fifth in a competitive 2m Class 2 contest featuring nine runners. Sent off at 16/1 with an OR of 149 (and earning an RPR of 141), he was held up towards the rear for much of the race, made some late headway before the last, but never threatened the principals. Trainer Dan Skelton described the run as an early-season pipe-opener, suggesting there’s plenty of improvement to come once he sharpens up.
Le Milos — the staying chaser who can land another major pot
Le Milos, winner of the 2022 Coral Gold Cup, is exactly the type Skelton can bring back for another tilt at the big staying handicaps once he is 100% right.
Last season was stop-start after knee surgery, but the reports since have been upbeat. The program already hints at Newbury or Kempton-type targets again.
Crucially, he is handicapped to be competitive if he gets a decent surface and a manageable weight. From a punting angle, the focus should be on early-winter staying handicap chases such as the Hennessy or Coral Gold Cup meeting. Later in the campaign, if he is flying, a spring look at the Nationals cannot be ruled out.
Peak window: November/December; 3m+ on galloping tracks.
Le Milos didn’t make the brightest start to his 2025/26 jumps campaign. He reappeared at Aintree on 26 October in a Class 2 handicap chase, sent off favourite at 3/1 off a mark of 143, but could only manage fifth of seven. It was a below-par effort by his standards, and he’ll need to show more next time to prove he still retains his old spark.
Midnight River — classy handicapper who could morph into a National type
Midnight River missed large parts of last season after an early spill in the Coral Gold Cup. Even so, he remains well-treated on his peak efforts.
Importantly, he is neat and nimble over fences and stays better than he is sometimes given credit for. The likely plan is a Wetherby or similar Listed handicap to start, followed by a return to a big pot once confidence is rebuilt.
If he strings two wins together, don’t be surprised to hear Grand National chatter later in the season.
Peak window: November return; February/March second strike.
Be Aware — Coral Cup/County type who travels like a graded horse
Be Aware has a sneaky “class in handicaps” profile and looked the part in several good races last season. He was even strongly touted as a Coral Cup type in yard briefings.
At times, he can over-race if the setup goes against him. However, when he does settle, he finishes strongly. Place him on a galloping track over 2m4f with a solid pace and he will always be there turning in.
Overall, he is one to keep firmly onside for the Greatwood or Coral Cup route.
Peak window: November handicap → March Coral Cup.
Update – October 30, 2025
Be Aware made a winning start to his 2025/26 jumps campaign at Stratford, landing a 2m3f contest on October 30 in a field of eight (Class 3). Sent off favourite at 5/4 off a mark of 136 (and recording an RPR of 145), he tracked the leader for most of the way before taking over just before the last. From there, he quickened smartly and drew clear to win with ease—a professional and confident performance that sets him up nicely for tougher assignments ahead.
Dark horses (the fun tickets)
L’Eau Du Sud (open company note), plus two to put in trackers: Gwennie May Boy and Cherie d’Am
You already have L’Eau Du Sud above; beyond him, two names to quietly follow:
- Gwennie May Boy — unassuming at home, excellent on the track, and the yard openly talks like there’s more to come. Suitable for valuable 3m handicaps before testing the graded waters if he keeps improving.
- Cherie d’Am — third in the Sefton as a novice hurdler; fences now look the logical play and she’ll love a bit of soft ground. A Bangor/Kelso type mares’ novice chase could be perfect.
🆕 Suggested addition
Fortune de Mer — a sharp start worth noting
One name we didn’t include in the original shortlist but now deserves a mention is Fortune de Mer, another from the Skelton battalion who has kicked off the new jumps season in style.
After finishing third at Uttoxeter on October 5 in a Class 4 hurdle (sent off 6/5 favourite, RPR 102), he bounced back brilliantly to win at Cheltenham in Class 1 company at odds of 14/1, earning a career-best RPR of 127. That’s a serious leap in performance — the kind that suggests the penny has dropped.
It’s early days, but this looks like a horse who could climb through the ranks quickly. Keep him firmly on your radar for upcoming assignments; he’s clearly thriving this term and could develop into another major player for the yard before spring.
Ace Of Spades — a winning start at Aintree
Ace Of Spades lived up to expectations on 26 October at Aintree, making a sharp and confident debut to the 2025/26 jumps season. Sent off favourite at 7/4 in a Class 2 over 2m4f off a mark of 127, he travelled strongly throughout and asserted when it mattered, defeating Moonbow and Serious Operator with authority. It was exactly the kind of professional display you’d want to see first time out — suggesting there’s plenty more to come from this progressive type as he moves up in class.
Dan Skelton’s training philosophy and placement
One of the main reasons the Skelton yard has closed the gap on the “big three” is the way Dan approaches campaign planning. He rarely rushes a horse in the autumn. Instead, early runs at Warwick or Wetherby often serve as fitness builders rather than end goals. By the time March arrives, those prep spins usually mean his best horses are peaking, not regressing. As a result, it is no coincidence that his Cheltenham strike rate has climbed steadily.
Another hallmark is his clever handicap strategy. Skelton has become a master of the “quiet prep, then pounce” approach. Horses like Langer Dan and Unexpected Party followed that script to perfection. They ran with promise mid-season, dropped a hint to the handicapper, and then delivered a career-best when the big pot was on the line.
In contrast to Willie Mullins or Gordon Elliott, who can flood a race with multiple contenders, Skelton plays a far more surgical game with a smaller but sharper squad. For punters, this means that when a Skelton runner is declared for a valuable target, it is rarely there to make up the numbers. More often than not, it is there because the team genuinely believe it can win. This approach underpins why compiling a list of Dan Skelton horses to follow 2025/26 is so valuable for bettors.
Dan Skelton is now firmly established among the elite. If you want a wider look at the main players shaping the sport, our top trainers to follow for the 2025/26 National Hunt season guide sets out who else is likely to dominate the big meetings.
How Skelton places his good ones (and how to bet them)
- Spring bias: Many of his big guns peak March–April. If a good horse runs “only okay” in December, don’t overreact — check the entry patterns and quotes. The yard often uses a prep to tee up the payday.
- Rhythm jumpers: Skelton’s chasers win by flow — clean jumping, strong mid-race sections, then sustained pressure. Track choice matters: Warwick, Wetherby, and Cheltenham’s New Course reward that style.
- Handicap stealth: Expect clever mark-management for Festival handicaps. The horse you see getting an educational ride in January might be the one powering up the hill in March. Unexpected Party was the template.
- Owner patterns: When the Hales/Mason/Ferguson colours roll into a 2m4f Grade 1/2, pay attention. Protektorat proved how quickly the team can pivot tactics to land the right prize.
You can also follow official fixtures and declarations directly through the British Horseracing Authority website to stay on top of upcoming targets.
Provisional targets & “best time of year” cheat sheet
- Protektorat: Ryanair defence (primary), with graded 2m4f preps; spring peak.
- Grey Dawning: Grade 1 staying chases; Aintree could be the big one again; Gold Cup conversation ongoing.
- L’Eau Du Sud: Tingle Creek/Desert Orchid type options depending on ground; spring Grade 1s at 2m.
- West Balboa: Mares’ novice chases and beyond; 2m4f–3m; mid-winter into spring.
- Kateira: Mares’ hurdles route; pick up a graded or valuable handicap on the way.
- The New Lion: Top novices (2m4f) before a switch to fences next autumn.
- Boombawn: Listed/Grade 2 on speedier tracks; 2m3f–2m4f; avoid bottomless ground.
- Unexpected Party: Grand Annual repeat mission.
- Le Milos: Coral Gold Cup meeting/Kempton Coral Trophy type; could spring a “proper pot” if fully over old issues.
- Midnight River: Wetherby Listed → big handicap; National whispers if he strings one together.
For those who like to plan their bets or trips around the key fixtures, we have also prepared a detailed National Hunt 2025/26 calendar. It sets out all the major meetings across the season, making it easier to map where Skelton’s stars might appear.
FAQs
Protektorat remains the most bankable 2m4–2m5 Grade 1 horse in Britain and is a legitimate Ryanair defender. If you want an “improver to Grade 1,” it’s L’Eau Du Sud stepping into open 2m company. Grey Dawning is the staying project who could end the season as a genuine Gold Cup horse.
On current evidence and intent, Unexpected Party for another crack at the Grand Annual is a very fair ante-post idea if you like rolling the dice early. Be Aware screams Coral Cup/County type if he gets his settling right.
The New Lion has the temperament and engine to catch fire in a 2m4f novice series. If he keeps stepping forward, he’s the one casual punters discover late — and you’ve already got him on side.
Skelton frequently tunes his A-team to peak in spring. With Protektorat/Grey Dawning types, be flexible in autumn and get more aggressive as Cheltenham/Aintree come into view. For handicaps, watch the marks, prep runs and entries closely — the yard is expert at the “prep-then-pounce” pattern.
Sustaining Grade 1 output while keeping the handicap edge — and taking another swing at the trainers’ title. Last year’s late-April Sandown finale showed how close they are to toppling even the strongest rival operations. Expect another all-out campaign.
From what we’ve seen so far, The New Lion looks tailor-made for the Ballymore or even the Turners if connections go the chasing route sooner rather than later. He relaxes, travels, and has the scope to handle the demands of a Festival race. On the mares’ side, West Balboa could be the one to make a splash in the new Mares’ Chase division. Both have the tactical speed and stamina blend that Skelton loves to unleash on the big stage.
Not yet — but he came closer than ever in the 2023/24 season, taking the title battle with Willie Mullins right down to the final day at Sandown. That campaign proved the yard is no longer just a “handicap yard” but a genuine Grade 1 operation. With Grey Dawning, Protektorat, and a string of younger prospects, it’s realistic to think Skelton will keep knocking on the door. That is why keeping track of this shortlist of Dan Skelton horses to follow 2025/26 could pay off all season long.
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