Dan Skelton slams handicapper's "offensive" response to British National entries

14 February 2023 , 20:00

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"We don't ask the referee as he comes off the pitch what they think," said Skelton, pictured at his Alcester yard on Tuesday morning (Image: PA)

Dan Skelton has slammed the Grand National handicapper's "offensive" response to the decline in British-trained entries.

The top handler hit back at Martin Greenwood's claim the low turnout was another sign of National Hunt racing's "demise" in this country.

Aintree's race-framer will next week reveal the weights for April's world famous contest, most recently won by 50-1 outsider Noble Yeats. The current ante-post favourite is one of 85 horses entered this year, with only 31 from British stables – down from 54 in 2022 and 62 in 2021.

But Skelton, who could be double-handed with Le Milos and Ashtown Lad, aired his strong views on Greenwood's assessment earlier today.

"He's an official of British racing. He shouldn't be making comments like that," he said. "I find it offensive. We don't ask the referee as he comes off the pitch what they think. An official's job is to officiate."

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Skelton was assistant to 13-times champion trainer Paul Nicholls when the yard's Neptune Collonges galloped to National glory in 2012. Speaking at his Cheltenham Festival media morning, Skelton added that he was "staggered" at the impact the popular grey made on the public.

'It just blows your mind," he added. "I think that's great for the sport and we should be concentrating on the positives rather than using the word demise."

Harry Skelton with Cheltenham Gold Cup contender Protektorat, a 12-1 shot with William Hill (PA)

Protektorat, 12-1 with William Hill for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, is Southwell-bound for a racecourse gallop. Usurped as Britain's number one hope on his lacklustre Cotswold Chase fourth, Skelton eight-year-old will work on the all-weather.

Skelton put his choice of track for the chaser and stablemates down to the dry spell.

"You get them there in the best shape you can and you win or you don't," he added. "But if I get Protektorat in the form from Haydock (Betfair Chase win), he'll be bang there and he'll be threatening, no question."

Melissa Jones