Harry Skelton was visibly moved as Grey Dawning delivered a stellar performance in the £200,000 Betfair Chase at Haydock. The main event on Saturday evolved into a thrilling showdown between last year’s top two contenders, with Handstands also in the mix.
Despite being defeated by Royale Pagaille a year ago, Grey Dawning dominated the race in the final stretch, pulling ahead by two-and-three-quarter lengths ahead of the former rival. Skelton, close to tears, expressed his elation following the victory, especially coming just days after his wife Bridget gave birth to their daughter Anna.
Reflecting on the win, Skelton praised the efforts of Clare and Tom Messenger, the assistant who diligently trained and prepared Grey Dawning for the race, allowing him to savor the triumph. He shared his joy over the recent birth of their daughter and eagerly anticipated reuniting with his family.
The significant triumph contributed £113,870 to Dan Skelton’s total prize money, solidifying his position at the top of the trainers’ leaderboard with over £1.2 million in earnings since April.
Dan Skelton highlighted the exceptional performance of Grey Dawning, acknowledging the delayed success from the previous year due to unfavorable weather conditions. He commended Harry Skelton’s emotional victory amidst a challenging 48 hours and emphasized the importance of owners in the sport, crediting Robert Kirkland’s support.
At Reach and its affiliated entities, user data is collected to enhance site experience, analyze usage patterns, and personalize advertising. Opt-out options are available, and acceptance of cookies and data practices is implied by using the website and related services.