Dan Skelton determined to 'get the spring right' with Grey Dawning after King George disappointment as trainer plots route to Cheltenham

Dan Skelton believes Grey Dawning will be ready to put a testing first half of the season behind him and is determined to "get the spring right" with last year's star novice. 

The trainer described the first-fence mistake which cost Grey Dawning any serious chance of being involved in the King George as "a right pain" but retains faith in a horse who leads Britain's limited challenge for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 14, while also holding an entry in the Ryanair Chase the day before.

Only 19 horses are entered for the Gold Cup and just five are British-trained, but Skelton defended the choices made by connections to wait another year rather than take on Galopin Des Champs in his hat-trick bid.