Why the Gold Cup can act as a ringing endorsement for trainer's new methods

Friday: 3.30 CheltenhamBoodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1) | 3m2½f | 5yo+ | ITV/RTV

Dan Skelton has always been a man on a mission and everyone knows what that mission is. Like his mentor Paul Nicholls, his work centres around winning the British trainers' championship.

Initially Skelton was quite clearly a Nicholls protege, but in the nearly ten years since going it alone his methods have adapted. Notably, his target training has become more ruthless. It is supposed that Irish giants like Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott are the main influences here and Skelton has seemingly spotted those trainers use their embarrassment of riches to train horses for one day only – even if that is a championship race.