Harry Skelton was visibly moved by Grey Dawning’s impressive victory in the prestigious £200,000 Betfair Chase at Haydock. The main event on Saturday turned into a thrilling duel along the straight between last year’s top two finishers, with Handstands also in contention.
Grey Dawning, who had been defeated by Royale Pagaille a year earlier, dominated the race in the final stretch, pulling away from the competition to secure a commanding two-and-three-quarter length lead over its old rival. Skelton, who was on the verge of tears, delivered a stellar performance just days after his wife Bridget gave birth to their daughter Anna on Thursday.
Reflecting on the win, Skelton expressed, “Last year didn’t go as planned due to the weather conditions, but today he was exceptional.” He credited Clare and Tom Messenger, the assistant who rides Grey Dawning daily, for preparing the horse well for the race.
Amidst personal milestones, Skelton shared, “It’s been eventful with the birth of our daughter Anna. I’m incredibly proud of Bridget and just eager to get back home, to be honest!”
Dan Skelton, the trainer, praised Grey Dawning’s outstanding performance, adding a substantial £113,870 to his prize money total, consolidating his position at the top of the trainers’ standings with over £1.2 million in earnings since April.
“I had a strong feeling he would deliver a remarkable performance today, and he certainly did,” Dan Skelton remarked about the grey chaser’s performance. He also acknowledged the delayed success, mentioning, “We are a year behind our expectations from last year, but today’s victory was truly satisfying to witness.”
Describing Harry Skelton’s emotional state, Dan Skelton said, “Harry has been through an extraordinary 48 hours. Doing this for Robert Kirkland, a remarkable owner, is truly special. Owners play a vital role in this sport, and providing them days like this is immensely gratifying.”
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