Skelton charges to fastest ever jumps century with Southwell double

Dan Skelton paid tribute to his staff and owners after smashing his own record for the fastest century of National Hunt winners in a season by 13 days with a double at Southwell on Tuesday.

Wins number 100 and 101 arrived courtesy of wide-margin victories at the Nottinghamshire track, with Tristan Durrell steering Mumford’s Magic and Palamon home, and Skelton raised his bat to break his previous best of October 26 in 2018.

The champion trainer now has his sights firmly set on beating Martin Pipe’s seasonal-best score of 243 from 1999-2000, but insisted he was taking nothing for granted, despite a huge team effort getting the Alcester yard off to a flying start.

“We have broken our own record, which is great. We got 100 on October 26 (2018) which was the fastest ever UK jumps century at the time, so to better that is fantastic,” he told the Press Association.

“The team have been absolutely phenomenal. They have churned out the runners and the wheel turns and I’m so proud of everybody for making that happen. The owners have really got behind the idea that we could beat that Martin Pipe’s record and it has added a different dynamic to our season. Long may it continue, but I am very proud to get there.”

Skelton has a 77-strong team back at his two-yard base and stressed each one has an important part to play.

“It is a huge team and I trust everybody to do their job and they all do it unbelievably well,” he said.

“We are all trying to set out to do something a little different and a little ambitious, but you tick off this 100 and you feel like you are on track.

“If we have a par season from last year then numerically that will be sufficient, but nothing is taken for granted. Anyone’s season hinges on health and fitness. We have to work on that health element, which is the biggest one.”