HARRY SKELTON: Cheltenham Festival 2026 – Day 4

It was brilliant to get another win on the board with Supremely West on Day 3, writes HARRY SKELTON.

It was a great piece of training from Dan and fantastic to fulfil a long-term plan. Take No Chances ran a good race to finish fourth in the Mares’ Hurdle, but I thought I was going to finish better than fourth on Kabral Du Mathan in the Stayers’ Hurdle. He travelled so well into contention but stopped very quickly after the last.

Now on to Gold Cup Day, where I have another nice book of rides, including on Grey Dawning in the main event. Hopefully, they can all run well.

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CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL

FRIDAY

MAESTRO CONTI – 1:20pm Cheltenham (Triumph Hurdle)

He stays really well, which you need in the Triumph. He’s improved all year and won the Trial for this over course and distance in January very nicely. He’s been going well at home and hopefully there’s a bit more to come. He’s versatile ground wise, so he won’t mind the rain that is forecast. I think he goes there with a very strong chance.

SINNATRA & TELLHERTHENAME – 2:00pm Cheltenham (County Hurdle)

I ride Sinnatra in the County Hurdle. He qualified for this on his fifth run of the season, when getting his head in front at Warwick. Winning there will have done his confidence a world of good. That came over two miles & three furlongs, and he drops back in trip to two miles & furlong here, but it’s on a stiff, galloping track. He sometimes doesn’t concentrate that well and gets distracted easily, but a good honest gallop should help. It will be interesting to see how he gets on as he’s a horse with plenty of ability and is more than capable of running into a place.

We also run Tellherthename, who is new to us. He’s got a bit of a patchy profile of late, but we’ve done loads of work with him, and if he’s at his best, hopefully he has a chance.

PANIC ATTACK – 2:40pm Cheltenham (Mares’ Chase)

She’s done incredibly this year, winning all three of her starts in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, Coral Gold Cup and then in a mares’ Listed race at Newbury last time. I couldn’t pull her up that day and she won really well. Hopefully, not too much rain falls for her as she would be better on good-to-soft ground. She’s pretty versatile though and is tough and hardy. She’s in great form and is a really game mare that knows how to win, so I think she’ll run a solid race.

MONEYGARROW – 3:20pm Cheltenham (Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle)

He’s been progressive this year at three miles, gets the trip well and handles any ground. He’s a stout stayer, which is very important in this race. He’s got to improve again, but there’s no reason why he shouldn’t and I think he has a good each-way chance.

GREY DAWNING – 4:00pm Cheltenham (Gold Cup)

He goes in the big one, which looks a very open renewal this year. For two years this has been the plan. Last year we didn’t come here because we thought it would be a year too soon, but we’re not thinking about next year this time around – this is the time for him. He probably wasn’t at his best last time out in the Cotswold Chase but we had left plenty to work on that day. I still thought he was running well and working into the race when making a mistake at the second last. If the ground was good-to-soft for him that would be ideal. He’s a past Festival winner and I think he will stay this trip. He’s ready to go, this is his day and we’re in there with a live chance.

NURSE SUSAN & CHARLUS – 5:20pm Cheltenham (Martin Pipe)

You can forgive Nurse Susan her last run as the track was probably way too sharp for her at Fontwell. If we get the rain that is forecast, she will enjoy that as it will just slow things up a little bit. She’s a good mare that is well capable on her day and could have an each-way chance.

Charlus was very disappointing on his first run for us. We’re not expecting that much and he will have to take a big step forward. Going back through his form, he obviously has a fair level of ability, so it would be nice if he could show that.

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