The second race on the card here on Friday felt like a painful summary of the entire 2023-24 campaign from British jump racing’s point of view. Five declared runners, four from Irish stables and the only home-trained entry was the outsider of the field.
But if Path D’Ouroux’s ultimately hard-fought success was the 10th for Gavin Cromwell’s County Meath yard here in little more than a year, there was considerably more promise from a British perspective as Dan Skelton’s Valgrand turned the feature event, the Grade Two Sky Bet Novice Hurdle, into a procession from the home turn.
Skelton is a narrow favourite in the betting for the UK National Hunt trainers’ championship, which crossed the water to Ireland for the first time in 70 years when Willie Mullins emerged in front in April. Even Skelton seemed a little taken aback by the ease of Valgrand’s success, but if wins like this are evidence of even stronger quality in his yard this year, he will give himself every chance.
“His time from the back of three out to the line might look a bit fancy but Harry [Skelton, Valgrand’s rider] had the run of the race and the mare [Gale Mahler, the odds-on favourite] didn’t run her race,” Skelton said, “so we probably just need to see it again to make sure it’s rock-hard form.
“But he’s got a fantastic attitude and loves jumping, so what’s not to like?”
Skelton is 6-4 for the title, with Mullins close behind on 7-4 and Paul Nicholls at 5-1 to claim a record-equalling 15th title.
“Ultimately, you can’t fake quality,” he said. “You can prime an average horse for a big day, you can prime a good horse for a very big day, but you can’t fake quality and the more depth in quality you have, the more you can aim at the big races and have the big days.
“We’re getting more of those horses as a team, I believe. It’s a privilege to be in that position but the reality of it is that it’s going to be very hard.
“It will be six months of hard work from us, and if Willie turns up in month five [in March] and does what he can sometimes do [at Cheltenham’s festival meeting], month six is going to be a real battle for all of us, me, Paul, Nicky [Henderson] and if anyone else gets involved, good luck to them as well.”
Detain has class to lift Futurity TrophyFive of the last seven winners of the Futurity Trophy have gone on to take a Classic as three-year-olds, while only Ancient Wisdom, successful 12 months ago, has failed to add another Group One to their record and there is no shortage of Classic potential in the eight-strong field for the last Group One of the UK season at Doncaster on Saturday.
Wimbledon Hawkeye is likely to start favourite to follow up his win in the Royal Lodge Stakes in September, while Delacroix represents Aidan O’Brien, the new champion on the Flat, who is looking for a record-extending 12th win in this contest.
They face strong opposition from Detain (2.40) and Anno Domini, both unbeaten after two starts, and John & Thady Gosden’s colt could easily find enough improvement to come out on top.
He has had a low-key introduction, winning two minor events on the all-weather at Kempton, but the time of Detain’s seven-length success last time was strong and he is a fair bet at around 9-2 to give his stable an overdue first success in this race.