'There will be plenty crabbing the form and everything else, but they're wrong' - defiant Dan Skelton sounds Grey Dawning rallying cry

A defiant Dan Skelton fired a warning to the staying chase division as he declared Grey Dawning a serious Gold Cup contender despite his defeat in the Betfair Chase.

Last season's Cheltenham Festival winner looked to be on his way to a second Grade 1 success on his first start outside novice company at Haydock on Saturday after cruising into the lead, only to be headed by Royale Pagaille after a mistake at the last and be beaten two lengths.

But the man leading the British trainers' title race pointed to a host of positives and said the seven-year-old had emerged fresher than expected from the gruelling race. Grey Dawning is now a general 16-1 for the Gold Cup, having been 12-1 with some bookmakers before the Betfair Chase.