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With the Cheltenham Festival now looming like a shadow over the racing calendar, Dan Skelton has once again set the cat among the pigeons. At a buoyant media morning at his Alcester base, the trainer, currently leading a relentless charge for his first Trainers’ Championship, pointed to a “dark horse” in the handicap ranks that he believes the market has completely missed.
The horse in question is the nine-year-old mare Kateira. Currently a general 25/1 shot for the Coral Cup, Skelton was uncharacteristically bullish about her chances, drawing immediate and pointed comparisons to his stable legend and back-to-back Festival hero, Langer Dan.
“She’s a massive, massive price,” Skelton remarked with a knowing smirk that has become synonymous with his handicap plots. “This has been the plan since Christmas. She’s into a handicap now off 11st rather than 12st, and it just seems to be nicely coming together. The longer days and a bit of sun on her back will suit her perfectly.”
The comparison isn’t just stable-talk; the numbers back it up. Kateira will head to the Coral Cup off a mark of 141, the exact same rating Langer Dan used to plunder the race in 2024. Much like her predecessor, Kateira has endured a frustrated season, failing to fire in four starts since defeating Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace at Wetherby.
However, Skelton has made a career out of “priming” horses for one specific Tuesday or Wednesday in March. With The New Lion spearheading his Grade 1 hopes in the Champion Hurdle, the trainer’s focus on the handicaps suggests he is leaving nothing to chance in his bid to fend off Willie Mullins and Paul Nicholls for the title.
While the Skelton yard is buzzing, the “Closutton Army” is beginning its march across the Irish Sea. Willie Mullins has confirmed that his 2025 Ryanair Chase winner, Fact To File, remains the ultimate “flexible friend” of the Festival. Despite holding an entry for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, the master of Closutton hinted that a late decision would be made, potentially leaving the door open for the enigmatic Gaelic Warrior to take center stage in the Ryanair.
In the staying hurdle division, the vibes around Teahupoo remain formidable. Gordon Elliott’s star is the warm favorite to regain his Stayers’ Hurdle crown, though the Cullentra handler has warned that the “changing of the guard” is coming, citing Brighterdaysahead as the most exciting prospect in his yard.
Beyond Kateira, the handicap markets have seen significant movement today:
As the entries tighten and the ground begins to dry, the chess match between the major powerhouses is reaching its endgame. If Skelton’s smirk is anything to go by, the British trophy cabinet might be busier than the pundits expect.
