Dan Skelton: 'I'm glad I've got the lead in title race - but Nicky Henderson is going to be a big danger'

Dan Skelton is hoping he can maintain his lead in the trainers’ championship and secure a first title but sees Nicky Henderson as “a big, big danger” to his breakthrough bid.

And Skelton is not ruling out reigning champion Willie Mullins either given his ammunition for the spring festivals, during which the Closutton maestro secured a pivotal £3 million-plus in prize-money last season.

After finishing second the Warwickshire-based trainer made a blistering start in the summer, accruing £262,920 more in prize-money by the end of September compared to the previous campaign, and has a lead of £650,853 over nearest pursuer Paul Nicholls with a total of £2,220,883 after Sunday’s racing.