Brotherly love doesn’t run deeper than between Dan and Harry Skelton. They shared a Warwickshire childhood full of ponies, showjumping and racing in equal measures.
Their father is, of course, Olympic showjumper Nick Skelton who, Harry explains, ‘achieved all he ever wanted to achieve’ in that individual gold medal at Rio in 2016. Dan was a former assistant to champion trainer Paul Nicholls and is now a hugely successful trainer in his own right.
Having earned the Champion jockey title in 2020-21, Harry, 35, rides up with the best of his generation, ticking off many big winners during his time at Nicholls’, including 2019 Champion Chase and ‘20 Tinglecreek on the popular grey Politilogue. These winning ways have continued with his brother now training the winners, with Cheltenham Festival winners, including the mares’ hurdle on Roksana in ’19 and County Hurdles on Superb Story in 2016 and on Ch’tibello in ’19, as well as dual Coral Cup victories on Langer Dan in '23 and '24, the Grand Annual in '24 with Unexpected Party and the Grade 1 Turners Novices' Chase on Grey Dawning.
In fact, together, the brothers have captured many top races around the country, including the '22 Betfair Chase with Protektorat, the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury with Le Milos, the Becher Chase with Ashtown Lad and a fantastic victory with Nube Negra in the Schloer Chase. Protekorat has been a fine servant, so far winning the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices' Chase at Aintree in April '21, the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock in '22 and last year's Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Keeping it in the family, when Protekorat won the Grade 2 Many Clouds chase in December '21, it was under Harry's now-wife Bridget Andrews.
Having married fellow Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey in Bridget in 2019, she and Harry live in Warwickshire alongside their two whippets. They welcomed their first child, Rory, back in April.
How horsey was your childhood?
I was always around ponies. My Dad, my brother and myself all learnt on the same pony, Oxo. In fact, he was all of ours first pony. I did a lot of showjumping on ponies and had good 12.2s.
How did you get into racing?
When I was fifteen, my dad took me to the late Reg Hollinshead to ride out. Basically, my dad had broken his neck and we didn’t know if I’d continue showjumping or go into racing. At the time, we didn’t have many showjumpers in so I went to ride out at Reg Hollinshead’s and never looked back.
What trainers have you worked for?
When I left school, I went to Richard Hannon’s to try and ride on the Flat but I grew a bit heavy so then I went to Paul Nicholls’. I was there for nine years and then Dan started training and that’s when we teamed up together.
Favourite racecourses:
I love Warwick. It’s a great test of jumping over fences, it’s very local and we seem to do very well there. Also, there’s no place like Cheltenham – it has amazing atmosphere and where anyone dreams of riding winners.
As a boy, which jockeys did you look up to?
When I was really young, Dad was always good friends with Adrian Maguire so we always followed his career. I will always remember Barton Bank missing the last in the King George and coming down in the King George. When I started out riding, AP McCoy and Ruby Walsh were the ones I looked up to.
Growing up, what type of big brother was Dan?
My mother and father spilt up when I was very young but Dan was always there and brought me up as well. I owe a lot to him; without him, I wouldn’t have been where I am today.
What was it like when your Dad won an Olympic gold?
It was an amazing feeling; there was a lot of emotion when he won in Rio. To finally achieve when he set out to achieve at the back end of his career was the icing on the cake.
How much interest does your Dad have in racing?
As a family, we’ve always had racehorses. My Grandad always had a few and my dad had racehorses and always trained a good few point-to-pointers. Racing has always been in the background as well as showjumping.
Dad has always been very interested in the racing – he actually wanted to be a jockey but success took him down the showjumping route and that was that. He owned a good race mare called Certainly Strong who won the Grade 1 at Sandown, the Henry VIII chase.
Race you’d most like to win:
Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Were you ever given any memorable advice?
To always work hard. Plus, my dad always said it’s what you achieve in a lifetime, not a day.
How competitive is your homelife with Bridget?
Before having a baby, we obviously did not always ride in the same races but we both wanted to achieve as much as we could. It’s a good atmosphere to be in.
If you hadn’t been a jockey then what would you have been?
A showjumper.
Favourite meal: Roast beef.
Favourite drink: Ribena.
Favourite snack: I love a cup of tea and biscuits.
Favourite music: Roxette.
Favourite holiday destination: Sainte Maxime in the south of France.
Hobbies: Cycling in the summer.
*Many thanks to Old Gold Racing for the help in securing this interview. They published it first in their fabulous newsletter Racing Weekly. To sign up, go to https://mailchi.mp/2f6ba62d6182/racing-weekly-lead-capture
A great article about a terrific jockey and his incredible family. Long may their success continue. P.S.....not sure about the Ribena though!