Dan Skelton Cheltenham Festival 2026 stable tour

Ahead of Cheltenham Festival 2026 next week, the highlight of the horse racing calendar, Ladbrokes ambassador Dan Skelton shares an in-depth stable tour.

Dan Skelton Cheltenham Festival stable tour

The mood in the camp is pretty good right now, with Cheltenham around the corner. You know, everyone is excited, and why wouldn't you be?! The horses have maintained their forms throughout the year, and the ones we've put forward for the festival have all had good seasons up to this point.

There's absolutely no doubt that I'm going into Cheltenham with my strongest ever team this year. By some margin, as well. We're getting better at this; you know, with time, you build a team, and everything comes together. It just does take time. You can't just watch Willie [Mullins], Paul [Nicholls], Nicky [Henderson] and Gordon [Elliott] and go oh, that's what I want, and just pick it up in one year... it doesn't work like that. 

I'd like to think we've got good chances in all four of the championship races across the week, and that's the kind of position we want to be in going forward.

I don't know what a successful Cheltenham Festival looks like this year, to be honest... it's a really difficult one to answer. Coming out of it, we'll know whether it was or it wasn't successful. You'll here every trainer say they just want one winner, and if they get one, then everything else is a bonus. I have to say, that is the way I feel; you know, if you get one, at least you're not getting talked about as the one who didn't get a winner!

We're at the stage now where we're expected to have a winner or two; we're a big team and with that comes the expectation. I'm able to separate myself from that noise now, though, whereas a couple of years ago, I don't think I could have done, and I was trying to live up to everyone else's expectations. You have to separate yourself from that expectation, because eventually it will get you down. You know, you can't just keep rising to expectation... if that was the case, what's Willie supposed to do? Have 15 winners, because he's had 10 before? People set unachievable targets at times, and I don't think many people really understand how competitive it is up there. It's very hard. 

I've never been more confident going into a festival, but it's reflected in the chances we've got, in the prices the horses are. We've never had a better team on paper, we've never had a better team according to the betting, we've never had a better team in my eyes, we've never had a better team in Harry [Skelton]'s eyes. All the metrics suggest we're in a better place than we've ever been... but England have sent some phenomenal teams to World Cups over the years and returned home with nothing, that's just how sport is sometimes!

The New Lion

I'm rally happy with The New Lion's preparation for the Champion Hurdle. The main concentration for us last time out was on a clear round, and a good turn of foot late on, and he did that. The unanswered question for me at the start of the season was whether he had that speed - but I think he confirmed that for us on Trials Day. We know he has Grade 1 class, and the stamina; it's then just about how fast you can go - you've got to show speed, and he showed it.

I've said publicly that I think he's got all of the weapons he needs, but has someone else got bigger weapons? I don't know... I've never won a Champion Hurdle, so it's silly for me to sit here and say he's definitely going to win it. But what I would say is that I wouldn't swap him for anyone else in that race. I'd go as far as to say whatever beats him will be the winner.

Grey Dawning

Grey Dawning is in a really good place for us right now; I'm very happy with him. Obviously he started the season brilliantly in a race where we felt he had unfinished business. Then we stepped forward to the Cotswold Chase, where he wasn't quite as ready, but we were using that run to step forward to the Gold Cup. His mistake two out cost him any chance of victory, but I'm delighted we made the decision to run him there, and he's definitely stepped forward for it.

We gave him a gallop the other day, and he galloped beautifully. He's undoubtedly in the best form of his life, in my opinion. We've trained him more specifically for a Gold Cup, this season. You can peak to your absolute maximum once in your life, and I'm just hopeful that maximum comes at this year's festival.

I don't think he's being overlooked in this race, and I've said he's probably in the best form of his life, but he's going to need to be, because this is probably the best Gold Cup we've seen in terms of depth in a long time. It's a pleasure to have a Gold Cup horse, and this is one I know I can really trust.

L'Eau du Sud

Everything has gone really well for L'Eau du Sud ahead of this year's Queen Mother Champion Chase. This is probably the one horse I've learnt more about than any other this year. The race that taught me most about him was the Tingle Creek... obviously he ran very well in the Shloer and we had him ready for that day. But he wasn't at his best in the Tingle Creek, and didn't feel at his freshest. So he went home for a couple of weeks after that race, and since he came back to us, he's looked really, really well. 

You can see in his eyes, though, he's in a really good place. And he has to be like this; he almost has to be a bit angry when he's galloping, and a bit aggressive, because if he's a bit flat, then that's where he's not at his best. 

If he runs like he did in the Shloer, then he's going to be right there... we've just got to get him back in that form, and I feel like we're there. Everything's been good with him, and I've learned a lot about him. 

Kabral Du Mathan

Kabral Du Mathan will run for us in the Stayers' Hurdle, and this was an interesting one for us to figure out, because we were potentially going to miss Cheltenham with him to go to Aintree, but we wanted to go to Fontwell en route. Fontwell was very, very soft and heavy, so we felt we did the right thing in missing that, and then Haydock, as well. 

I wouldn't say we've come to this because of what's left on the table, but he's in such good form, I trust him to go three miles... it's just his age; I was trying to resist this distance this early. But six-year-olds have won it before, and will win it in the future... so why can't one win it this year?

It was obvious straight away, as soon as we got him, just how talented he was. And Paul [Nicholls], to be fair, said to me, that if we stepped him up in trip, we'd see a different horse. He came to me ready made, really. You know, you're lucky enough to have any horse, but when one comes to you like this, you're incredibly lucky.

Maestro Conti

Maestro Conti is one I'm really excited to run in the Triumph Hurdle. He's been brilliant in his two runs for us, and he's shown two very different abilities, so I'm really happy with him. He looks to me like he's got a lot of what you need to win this race.

I wouldn't swap him for anyone in the field - I'm very happy with how he's going, and he's improved for us. I think he's one of our biggest chances of the week, to be honest. 

The statisticians will tell you how important course form is in a race like this, but the fact he won here on Trials Day can't be a negative, can it? Mentally, in terms of his racing style, he's a work in progress who is just getting better and better, and I'm very happy with what I've seen of him. He's as good a juvenile as I've ever had. He's loaded with talent. 

Mydaddypaddy

We think we've got a real chance of winning the Supreme Novices' Hurdle with Mydaddypaddy. He's high-class, and obviously we've had this race in mind for him the whole time. We're lucky that we've been able to do that with him, because he's just that good. I think we'll see a better horse here than we saw at Aintree, for a multitude of reasons.

I'll be honest - I think he's a lot better for that Aintree run. I think he's of similar quality to The New Lion, but I can't wait for Mydaddypaddy to go chasing. I see him as the absolute perfect Arkle horse for this time next year, but let's not wish time away... let's do things stage by stage. I think we'll see a very good showing from him in that first race though. He looks, to me, like he's got a chance. It is one of the most competitive Supremes we've had for some time, but that's a good thing. 

Panic Attack

We're going down the mares' route with Panic Attack, unless something unusual happens to the Ryanair. She's just been a revelation for us this season... I always thought she'd step into this year and win us a nice handicap, because it almost felt like there was unfinished business with her after what she did at Windsor. But she has absolutely blown us away, you know... I can't say I expected her to go and win two of the biggest handicaps ran all season!

She's got a huge chance here, I've got to say. That track is a bit more of a staying track, and I just have a lot of faith in her. You know, I had plenty of faith in her before this season, but that's even more the case now. And Harry [Skelton] just says he can't believe how good she feels... I think she'll go very, very close in this one. Maestro Conti is one of my biggest chances of the week, but Panic Attack is right up there as well.

Be Aware

Be Aware will more than likely run in the Grand Annual - I feel like we're ready for that type of challenge now. Not winning at Windsor sort of cemented the fact that we should be looking at the handicap here, and not the Grade 1. I'd like to see a bit of pace in front of us in the race, although we'll still be quite handy. He doesn't have the numbers to be a real genuine Arkle contender, but he is still a high-class horse, so I'd give him a squeak in this.

A Pai De Nom

A Pai De Nom has had a brilliant year; every time we've run him, it's felt like he's been getting better. The last day was probably a career best at Newbury. He heads the betting for the Martin Pipe and that is definitely where he'll be heading. I feel like the conditional jockeys' race is the best one for him on that track... his profile is of a horse that will go well here. He's definitely got something left in his mark, and he's the right type of horse for this, in that he's a novice who is probably aiming to go chasing next year. A lot of horses have done really well with that type of mould, so he'll stay the trip really well.

Madara

Madara has a huge chance in the Plate. He came in a bit late to this year because of a leg injury, which potentially isn't a bad thing for him, in that he hasn't had a hard season. If he'd have come back a bit earlier, he'd have been a lot busier, but he comes in with light mileage this year and had a good run at Kempton the last day. I feel like there's plenty left to work on from that - he'd be a big player. He's definitely one of our biggest handicap chances of the week.

Supremely West

Supremely West is another big handicap chance of ours for the week in the Pertemps; he qualified early in the season. I tried him over two-and-a-half, because I was toying with the idea of him being a strong two-and-a-half-miler, rather than an all out three, but that didn't work. He's definitely a three-miler, and because he's not had the busiest of seasons, it probably suits him that he's coming here a little bit fresher. We've taken a very patient approach here, and hopefully it pays off... I think he's got a great chance.

Ace of Spades

I was going to say Ace Of Spades is being overlooked for the Pertemps, but he's actually fourth-favourite. He's had a fantastic year and has learned to race over three miles really well now. His jumping has improved dramatically - the better the ground, the better his chance, I think. Harry [Skelton] will ride Supremely West, as it stands, if we're being honest. But I don't think Ace Of Spades is a bad number; in a race where you have to qualify now, there's little room for manoeuvre. You have to show a bit of quality in this one, it's not the lurking race that perhaps it was maybe 10 years ago.

Sinnatra

The options are open for Sinnatra, but we're definitely going down one route and one route only, and that is the County Hurdle. He's a big engine with a big ability... it's just the brain isn't quite fully in tune yet with where we'd want him to be. And that's why we've raced him plenty... if we can just get him to engage a little bit more, then he'll certainly give us a good chance here. 

Kateira

Kateira comes into this festival a little bit under the radar; she hasn't had the most sparkling of seasons; she won at Wetherby early on, and we're going to go for the old Coral Cup here. Her handicap mark has come down to a more realistic level. And I think that because she's coming in here under the radar, it makes her a nice each-way player. I don't mind that at all.

Nurse Susan

Nurse Susan has had a great year, and then underwhelmed at the eleventh hour. In my eyes, though, she was never even going to the first hurdle at Fontwell; whether she was in season or something, I don't know, but it was a complete non-event. She didn't give herself a hard race. She will probably run in either the Mares' or the Conditional Jockeys' - I feel like the race that she's more likely to win is the latter, but whether she's the perfect ride for a condition is the discussion we've got to have. She loves that track tough, and that's why she wants to be running on either the Thursday or the Friday.

Charlus

Charlus will run, but I have to say I know very little about him. He ran underwhelmingly for us at Kempton in a trip that ended up being too far for him, and he looks to me like he's going to be a horse who gets it all together in time. But if things go well for him, I think two-miles might be more like it for him.

Tellherthename

Tellherthename is very good, but is also very problematic, historically. We haven't seen any of problems up to this point, and touch wood that stays the same because we really need to not see any of his problems here. We're going to aim for the County - his work has been very good and he's obviously loaded with ability. It wouldn't surprise me if he went very, very close in this race. Having said that, he's never ran for me, so I can't say x, y or z about him, other than his work is that of a very good horse.

Bossman Jack

Bossman Jack is a horse we've always thought has been very good - he's got a bit of a child's brain, but he's improved a lot for racing. He was very good on his last two starts. He won't be a back number in the Turners, but having said that, he doesn't carry that flashy graded form that some of the other contenders in the betting do. I think he'll run really, really well; this is a very smart horse and I wouldn't be surprised if he stepped forward again next year. It feels like we're only really scratching the surface with him. He's massively going under the radar, for me. Who's to say he can't turn up here and put up those big numbers?

Moneygarrow

I feel Moneygarrow has been overlooked for the Albert Bartlett, and I don't really know why. He stays the trip well, he was good at Windsor, he relaxes through the early stages of a race and he comes home well... I've saved him up for this race and I don't really have any negatives with him, to be honest.

The Fred Winter - The Mighty Celt, Made U Blush & Misterdoc

The Mighty Celt is one of two who are most likely to get into the Fred Winter for us. He did run very well at Haydock. We bought him specifically to run in this race, and I wanted to give him a run over English hurdles - I thought he did really well on that day; he gave away a penalty and ran well. A fast race will really suit him. 

Made U Blush is another I'd love to get into this race; she obviously won a Listed race last time, and I think she's nicely handicapped. But the same can be said about Tralee Girl, who did underwhelm the last day, but I think that's just because she put in a lot of effort at Newbury.

But Misterdoc is the other I'd love to get into the Fred Winter. He won quite nicely the other day, staying on well. He was way too keen for us first time, but he wouldn't be a bad number in this one. Of the four of them, it depends who gets in there when it comes to who my best chance would be. Right now, Made U Blush is the shortest price, and I'd probably have to agree with that, if she got in.

Champion Bumper - Mets Ta Ceinture, Vango Can Go, The Sketcher & Diamond Street

The Champion Bumper could have four representatives from us, and I'll start with a bit of a dark horse called Mets Ta Ceinture. She's a high-class bumper horse from France whose form has been very good. Being a four-year-old filly, I think she gets seventeen pounds. She looks really good on form and work, and we'll see if we're still happy with her at the eleventh hour, but our intention with her right now is to run. 

We're likely to run Vango Can Go, who ran very well in a listed race for us, and I think he's capable of handling the hustle and bustle of this kind of race. He's a bit better going left-handed than right, so that might help us. He's tough, and he'll suit this race no problem.

We're also going to run a horse called The Sketcher, who won very impressively up at Ayr - all he did was gallop. He's a really strong galloper and you could probably ride him quite handy. We like to drop our bumper horses in a little, but with him I think you can ride him quite handy. is work has been good - he perhaps doesn't have the flashiest of form, but his performances have been good.

And then I'll probably run - if it's soft enough - a horse called Diamond Street. He put up a big number at Doncaster in a bumper - it was only an ordinary bumper, but the further he went, the better he was going.

I've never ran four in a champion bumper, but I'm really excited about our chances this year - at this point Harry will probably ride Mets Ta Ceinture.

Soldier Reeves

Soldier Reeves will run in the Turners, and is a big price, actually. He ran really well in a Grade 2 last time, at Haydock, behind one of Nicky Henderson's. I think this race will really suit him at a big, big price. There's obviously a lot of horses with fancied form ahead of him, but he stays really, really well, and he's won at the track before. I think he'll run tidy here.

Boombwan

Boombawn will probably run in the Plate, but I do feel like he's battling the handicapper a little. He does have big race experience, and he's been carrying top weight for a while now - but all of a sudden he's carrying a middling weight, and that might make a bit of a difference. I do still think he's battling the handicapper though.

Riskintheground

And again, I think Riskintheground is another one who has been battling the handicapper. He had a phenomenal spring last season, and run a good race in the autumn. He will obviously get a bit less weight in a race like this, and he's won around the track before, but I still think we're too high in the handicap.

Calcio

Calico has had an absolutely phenomenal year up to this point, winning two great handicaps in the autumn. I think he's likely to run in the Grand Annual and we might claim off him. But he knows how to run big races around that track. I wouldn't be surprised to see him turning in here, even off a big weight. His run at Newbury the other day was a good one on numbers, so I'm confident he'll go to Cheltenham with a squeak.

I couldn't put punters off him. Look, regardless of the handicaps, when you're dealing with horses who know how to run these big races, with those handicaps, they're very reliable. It's like when we used to run Unexpected Party in similar races - he never hid anything from the handicapper, but he knew how to run those races, and I really do think that counts for a good bit.

Shakeyatailfeather

If Shakeyatailfeather gets in the Grand Annual, then she'll run. I thought it was a much better run from her the other day, over two-and-a-half. She's much better over two, I feel, and she has won at this track before. If she got in, she'd be off a low weight, and I think she'd be dangerous off that low weight. 

Mille Et Une Vies

Mille Et Une Vies is a very nice, young filly. She's going to run in the mares' novices', and she gets the four-year-old allowance. Her form is France was very good, as has been her work at home. We've brought her to the boil quite slowly, and we've liked everything we've seen. I think she could run a massive race here. 

Tranquil Sea

Tranquil Sea is qualified for the Pertemps... whether he gets in or not, I don't know yet, but if he does get in, he'll definitely be running.

Faivor

Faivoir is a 50:50 as to whether he runs in the County Hurdle - which obviously he's won before, but it's probably more likely he goes in on the Saturday before [Imperial Cup].

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