Welcome to our profile of former British Champion Jump Jockey Harry Skelton.
Harry Skelton is a British jockey who competes in National Hunt racing.
Harry is a stable jockey for his brother Dan Skelton at their Lodge Hill operation.
Between the brothers of Dan and Harry Skelton, they have achieved great success.
Find out more about Harry Skelton:
Contents
Key Stats of Harry Skelton
- Name – Harry Skelton
- Date of Birth – 20 September 1989
- Birthplace – Warwickshire
- Big Wins: Irish Grand National, National Spirit Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, David Nicholson Mares Hurdle, Coral Gold Cup, County Hurdle (2), Tingle Creek Chase, Betfair Chase, Mersey Novices Hurdle, Manifesto Novices Chase, Kauto Star Novices Chase, Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle and many more top National Hunt prizes.
- Nationality – British
Jockey Profile – H. Skelton
Harry is the son of Olympic gold-medal equestrian Nick Skelton and the brother of racing trainer Dan, for whom he is the stable jockey.
He started in racing with flat trainer Richard Hannon before switching to National Hunt and teaming up with his brother in 2013.
Harry’s first major success came aboard Niche Market for Bob Buckler in the 2009 Irish Grand National. He was the youngest rider to win in the history of the race.
Harry married fellow jockey Bridget Andrews in 2019 and became champion jockey in 2020-21 with 152 winners.
Harry Skelton – Key Jockey Stats
Harry made rapid progress as soon as he joined forces with brother Dan. From 26 winners in 2013-14, he recorded 55 winners the following season before securing his first century (101) in 2015-16. He equalled that figure in 2016-17 and has only failed to reach a hundred once in the last seven seasons.
His best year numerically was 2018-19, when he rode 178 winners. He was denied his first champion jockeys title by Richard Johnson, who rode 200 winners.
Two years later, he fulfilled that ambition when he won an epic duel with Brian Hughes.
In October 2021, Skelton rode his 1000th winner aboard Dorisa Queen at Stratford.
Harry Skelton’s Big Race Wins
Skelton’s first taste of big race success came at Fairyhouse in the 2009 Irish National. He led two out on a 33-1 chance Niche Market and held off a 50-1 shot Church Island by 2 lengths.
He won his first Grade 2 on Celestial Halo in the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell Park in 2011, and his breakthrough Cheltenham Festival victory came aboard Superb Story in 2016.
He had to wait until 2019 and the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle before claiming his first Grade 1 on Roksana. He won a second County Hurdle at the same meeting aboard Ch’tibello, both trained by his brother.
His 2020 victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase must rate highly among his best moments, while other Grade 1’s include Allmankind (2019 Coral Juvenile Hurdle and Henry VIII Novices Chase) and Protektorat (2022 Betfair Chase).
Harry Skelton’s Most Famous Victories
Roksana was a fortunate winner at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival, benefitting from the last flight fall of odds-on favourite Benie Des Dieux. That didn’t matter to the Skeltons with the gallant mare going on to finish a close second at Aintree. She returned for the same race for the next two seasons, finishing fourth and third, respectively.
Politologue also had luck on his side when landing the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2020. Market leaders Altior and Chacun Pour Soi were late withdrawals, leaving Politologue to defeat Dynamite Dollars and Bun Doran. The popular grey added another Grade 1 victory on his first start in the 2020-21 season when landing the Tingle Creek Chase.
Summary of Jockey Harry Skelton
Harry Skelton is one of the most consistent jump jockeys and is currently enjoying plenty of big race success.
