Dan Skelton breaks Pipe record for earliest century over jumps with Sam Red win

The victory of Sam Red in dramatic circumstances at Cheltenham on Friday gave Dan Skelton his 100th winner of the campaign, a success that broke Martin Pipe’s record for the earliest century over jumps in a season.

Skelton's 11-1 shot looked booked for a place in the 3m1f amateur riders’ handicap chase until leader Oighear Dubh became the second horse on the card to follow the running rail and run out through the tape close home, at the intersection of the run-in as the track bends round to the left, and Sam Red found extra close home under William Marshall to bring up the trainer's landmark win.

The first horse to exit stage left had been Skelton's One For Billy, who had been a length down and challenging for honours in the 2m novice chase when running out, so it was a case of win one, lose one for the trainer where the day's drama was concerned.

Watch Sam Red's dramatic win

Skelton said: “It's special to get to the 100 at Cheltenham and I never thought it was possible, although we start every season wanting to get a faster 100.

"We set out to have a great summer but it has been incredible and down to the top-class team, head lad Phil Haywood, Tom Messenger and my brother Harry, who rides them.

"They take so many runners to the races every day and travel all those miles. I just sit there and declare the horses.

"It's been an incredible day after One For Billy could have been the 100th winner, and to lose it that way I was so mad."

Pipe had completed the previous earliest century by a jumps trainer with Turkestan at Ascot on November 3, 2001. In doing so he beat his own record, established the year before on November 17.

Racing Post historian John Randall said: “It's better to describe Skelton’s achievement as the ‘earliest’ century rather than the ‘fastest’ because some of Pipe’s ground-breaking centuries were achieved in seasons that started in June or even August, so it’s possible he took fewer days to reach 100.

“However, Skelton's record is legitimate because it has been set in a season that started on May 4 and is therefore comparable to Pipe's record in 2001, when the season started on April 30.”

Skelton quickly established himself as a major force after leaving his role as Paul Nicholls’ assistant trainer, notching 27 winners in his first season with a licence in 2013-14, since when he has increased his tally each season, to a high of 156 winners last term. He is well on course to better that.

Members can read the latest exclusive interviews, news analysis and comment available from 6pm daily on racingpost.com