No fast start this summer for Skelton with trainer forced to wait for new season

Dan Skelton, who saddles more winners each summer than most trainers manage all season, has been forced to pare back his sizeable team of summer jumpers amid uncertainty caused by the coronavirus.

The trainer has welcomed being able to work towards a provisional return of jumps racing on July 1 but has had to put horses out to grass who ordinarily would have been helping the trainer to rack up summer wins.

Skelton has a prolific record during those months with more than 20 winners every May for the last three seasons, and as many as 66 between April 1 and August 31 last year.

This time last year he was a 6-1 third favourite to become champion trainer. In prices released on Tuesday for the 2020-21 jumps season, Skelton is 25-1 with Paddy Power behind 2-5 favourite Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls at 6-4.

However, Skelton has insisted there are far bigger things to worry about than racing.

"It's obviously been very disruptive and we've reduced the number of runners for the summer," said Skelton. "We'll be down to around 35 core summer jumpers, the real fast-ground horses.

"It's usually a busy time of the year for us and it's frustrating for trainers with summer horses because it's difficult to plan. However, we've got a date in the diary now which is great.

"We've been informed that if it's doable we're going to get a full jumps programme and we've all got to work towards that but it goes without saying there are far more important things going on in the world at the moment without talking about our industry.

"We just hope it gets back to somewhere near normal soon for everybody's sake. Who knows how it will work out? We hope its nice and smooth but things are ultimately out of people's control."

Skelton also stressed while there are key parts to each season, Flat and jumps racing must be recognised as being all-year-round.

"It is acceptable to say there are core parts to the Flat and jumps seasons but modern trainers run a business 12 months of the year. The division doesn't really exist anymore," he added.

"If your business relies on nine months of ferocious activity followed by inactivity then that's how you run your business. We're well within our rights to run ours throughout the year because that's when jump racing is on. You can set your business model out to do that."

While recognising it is a testing time for people in all industries, Skelton was full of praise for his team, who have adapted to extraordinary circumstances and strict measures on social distancing.

"Our staff, owners and suppliers have been very understanding," said Skelton. "The government introduced the furlough scheme which is vital for jumps trainers as it means we can retain jobs.

"That's very important. Having a bit of time off because of the coronavirus isn't ideal as everybody wants to be working, but it's important to ensure there's jobs to come back to when this is over."

Skelton, who ordinarily builds an early lead in the trainers' championship over the summer, has been priced at 25-1 by Paddy Power to win the title behind Nicky Henderson (2-5), who was named champion for a sixth time this month, and Paul Nicholls (6-4).

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: "Nicky wrestled the title from the grasp of his great friend and rival Paul last season and while the Irish trainers dominated Cheltenham, perhaps the former's four successes compared to Paul's sole victory is some indication of how next season might unravel."

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