Mullins in the money at Cheltenham but Skelton notches two winners to increase lead as trainers' title battle heats up

The latest battle in the British trainers' championship took place at Cheltenham on Thursday and it was Dan Skelton who was left smiling after keeping the reigning champion at bay before increasing his lead on the Ffos Las evening card.

Britain’s only hope for title honours kept his advantage with £270,000 up for grabs at jump racing’s headquarters and was the only one of the leading pair to celebrate Cheltenham victory after Shakeyatailfeather’s success in the 2m½f handicap chase on the mares-only card.

It could have been a double had favourite Coco Mademoiselle survived a mistake at the third-last in the 3m1½f handicap chase, but the impact of that defeat was minimised by disappointment for Mullins’ most promising runner.

Sainte Lucie was sent off at 11-10 for the opening juvenile hurdle after finishing eighth in the Triumph Hurdle last month but could manage only fifth to 28-1 winner Lagoon Nebula.

Lagoon Nebula: winner of the opener at Cheltenham on ThursdayCredit: JOHN GROSSICK

Second and third places for A Penny A Hundred in the 2m4½f handicap chase and Sainte Tartare in the feature Listed novice hurdle added to the Mullins total and meant he took home marginally more than Skelton from Cheltenham.

However, Skelton added £8,788 to his tally at Ffos Las with maiden hurdle winner Ronnies Rules and handicap hurdle runner-up Delgany Deadline, meaning he ended the day £37,524 in front.

“It was a bit frustrating with Coco Mademoiselle,” Skelton said at Cheltenham. “She was going very well but whether she’d have seen it out under top weight up the hill we don’t know. But that’s sport.

“We’ll keep going and we’ll be ahead going into Sunday. Every day that goes by is a day you’re closer to it. You can keep ticking off the days, ticking off the races and hope that ours keep doing it.”

Dan Skelton on day two of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival

Dan Skelton: "Every day that goes by is a day you’re closer to it"Credit: Alan Crowhurst

Skelton will saddle the 2022 Coral Gold Cup winner Le Milos in Haydock’s £100,000 veterans’ final on Saturday, as well as having representatives at Huntingdon and Newton Abbot, while Mullins will have to wait until Sunday's Premier raceday at Plumpton to inflict any further damage.

Ladbrokes reacted to the latest action by trimming Skelton to 3-1 (from 7-2) and pushing out Mullins to 2-9 (from 1-6).

“There’s no doubt in my mind that it’ll come down to Sandown,” said Skelton. “I think someone’s going to be beaten by a very small margin. No-one has ever won more than £3 million in the championship and been beaten but someone will this year. It’s odds-on that it’s me but I’ll do everything I can to make sure it’s not.”

The Sussex Champion Hurdle is the highlight on Plumpton’s Sunday card and could have a significant bearing on the outcome of the championship with £75,000 up for grabs.

Mullins has seven of the 23 entries, including the topweight Daddy Long Legs and County Hurdle first and third Kargese and Absurde. Skelton has four, with the Aintree festival winner She’s A Saint arguably the most interesting of them.