premium
'He wasn't the biggest but what he lacked in size he made up for in heart'
Hitting the big time: Harry Skelton with his father Nick as he celebrates winning the Irish Grand National on Niche Market in 2009Credit: Carolina Norris (racingpost.com/photos)
Top jockey Harry Skelton with his five most memorable victories.
Niche Market – Irish Grand National, 2009
As my first major winner when I was a 3lb claimer, he'll always have a place in my heart. To win it at such a young age was brilliant and it was massive for me, although when you're that young it somehow passes you by a bit. My Dad was there with me so that was nice as well. The horse is still with us now – the owners very kindly gave him to me when he was retired.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inFeatures
Last updated
Copymore inFeatures
- Top racing and betting books of 2025: must-reads of the year, from the perfect Christmas gift to tales of old-school punting
- The comeback kid and Cheltenham's first lady - how Bob Olinger and Rachael Blackmore proved the perfect couple
- Eat, sleep, report, repeat: back on duty and back on the naughty step at the Tattersalls December Sale
- Coole Cody: the old prize-fighter who put on a show for everybody and made Cheltenham his own
- Foxtrots, false starts and fumbles as racing stars channel their inner Strictly - all for a great cause
more inFeatures
- Top racing and betting books of 2025: must-reads of the year, from the perfect Christmas gift to tales of old-school punting
- The comeback kid and Cheltenham's first lady - how Bob Olinger and Rachael Blackmore proved the perfect couple
- Eat, sleep, report, repeat: back on duty and back on the naughty step at the Tattersalls December Sale
- Coole Cody: the old prize-fighter who put on a show for everybody and made Cheltenham his own
- Foxtrots, false starts and fumbles as racing stars channel their inner Strictly - all for a great cause