Valgrand romp gives Skelton title boost in face of strong Irish challenge

British handler is favourite to wrest the top trainer prize off the dominant Willie Mullins this season

The second race on the card here on Friday felt like a painful summary of the entire 2023-24 campaign from British jump racing’s point of view. Five declared runners, four from Irish stables and the only home-trained entry was the outsider of the field.

But if Path D’Ouroux’s ultimately hard-fought success was the 10th for Gavin Cromwell’s County Meath yard here in little more than a year, there was considerably more promise from a British perspective as Dan Skelton’s Valgrand turned the feature event, the Grade Two Sky Bet Novice Hurdle, into a procession from the home turn.