It’s still early in the 2025/26 National Hunt season, but the top yards are already flexing their muscles with some eye-catching early-campaign performances. Few have made a bigger statement than Dan Skelton. As punters begin to size up the likely contenders—and explore the latest Cheltenham free bet offers—the Warwickshire trainer is once again shaping up as a major force ahead of March.
Denied the British Champion Trainer title by Willie Mullins for the last two seasons, Skelton continues to return stronger. He has already amassed over £1.7 million in prize money before the busy festive period has even begun. This time, he’s aiming to build an early-season cushion big enough that Mullins can’t reel him in with one of his trademark late surges. But as always, the Cheltenham Festival will be where the battle for supremacy is truly won or lost.
While yet to secure one of the Festival’s Championship races, Team Skelton have become a major presence at Prestbury Park—most notably when firing in a magnificent four-timer in 2024, including Grade 1 victories in the Ryanair Chase and Golden Miller Novices’ Chase. Four winners at a single Festival is a rare achievement for any yard not named Mullins, and Skelton will be targeting similarly strong numbers in 2026.
Here are some of the horses who could help him add to his current tally of 11 Cheltenham Festival wins.
Mydaddypaddy – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
Mydaddypaddy could set the tone for the entire meeting, with the four-year-old currently heading the market for the Festival opener—the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
He’s unbeaten in three starts under rules, having bolted up by 11 lengths in a Huntingdon bumper before making a seamless transition to hurdling. Comfortable, professional victories at Carlisle and Haydock—particularly the seven-length defeat of Kosac d’Ourdairies—have fuelled serious excitement.
The caveat, of course, is that the Irish have dominated this race every year since Constitution Hill’s 2022 triumph. Mullins and the other major yards are yet to unleash many of their leading novices, so the true depth of opposition remains unknown. But as things stand, Mydaddypaddy looks a genuine standard-setter.
The New Lion – Champion Hurdle
Skelton’s standout chance in the Championship races comes via The New Lion, who bids for top-level glory in the Champion Hurdle.
Last season’s novice form marks him out as a major player. He impressed with wins at Chepstow and twice at Newbury before being purchased by JP McManus and delivering a polished success in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival.
His seasonal reappearance in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle promised to be a defining moment, as he lined up against Constitution Hill. But the race descended into chaos, with The New Lion falling at the second last and Constitution Hill crashing out even earlier.
Lossiemouth now sets the standard, but if The New Lion returns to his novice peak, he remains a serious contender for the crown.
Panic Attack – TrustATrader Plate
Three of Skelton’s top hopes all run on the opening day—potentially making or breaking the yard’s Festival before it has truly begun. Panic Attack has been one of the stars of the season so far.
She burst into the campaign with a stylish success in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at the Cheltenham November Meeting, then backed that up with an equally impressive win in Newbury’s Gold Cup Handicap Chase. In doing so, she became the first mare ever to win Britain’s two richest pre-Christmas handicap chases.
Now heading the market for the TrustATrader Plate, she could be the one to cap a dream opening day for Team Skelton—possibly even completing a remarkable treble.