Dan Skelton Prepares L’Eau Du Sud for Champion Chase
Dan Skelton is training L’Eau Du Sud for the Champion Chase at Cheltenham, following a remarkable victory in the Shloer Chase where the horse won by 15 lengths. This performance comes after a lengthy absence of 223 days from racing, raising expectations for his upcoming challenge.
L’Eau Du Sud has had a stellar season so far, winning both of his races by a combined total of 33 lengths. Skelton noted, “He loves running fresh,” emphasizing the horse’s preference for racing after a break. The horse competes in the colours of the late John Hales, adding a sentimental touch to the upcoming race.
In addition to L’Eau Du Sud, Skelton has other contenders in the mix. Kateira is highlighted as his each-way horse of the week for the Coral Cup, carrying 11 stone—a significant reduction from her previous weight of 12 stone. Skelton remarked, “I have put up Kateira as my each-way horse of the week in all the previews and the ground has come right for her in the old Coral Cup.”
Another horse, Bossman Jack, has shown promising form in his last two outings, while Soldier Reeves finished second in a race at Haydock prior to Cheltenham. Meanwhile, Majborough recently won the Dublin Racing Festival by an impressive 19 lengths, making him a formidable competitor.
Skelton’s ambitions extend beyond individual races; he aims to surpass Willie Mullins in the trainers’ championship, a goal that has driven his training strategies this season. He acknowledged the challenge posed by Majborough, stating, “We will have to do a lot to beat Majborough, but we are very happy with our prep.”
As the Champion Chase approaches, observers are keen to see how L’Eau Du Sud performs after his long layoff and whether Skelton’s preparations will pay off. Details remain unconfirmed regarding the final line-up and conditions for the race, but anticipation is building in the racing community.
