Dan Skelton eyeing Aintree riches but playing down talk of championship

Dan Skelton, who is in third place in the jump trainers' table after the Cheltenham Festival, is aiming a strong team at the Grand National meeting, headed by Gold Cup third Protektorat.

He is not focusing on the championship but hinted that a good haul of prize-money at Aintree could lead to his going all out for the title afterwards.

Speaking a day after Willie Mullins revealed he is considering a determined bid to become the first Irish trainer to top the table in nearly 70 years, Skelton said: "I've not got my eye on the trainers' championship because I'm behind. And if somebody like Willie decided they were going to go and throw a load of aces, it's going to be hard to stop the likes of him.

'It's there to play for' – Mullins considering a tilt at British trainers' title (Members' Club)

"I'm not going to Aintree thinking I've got a chance of winning it but if we come out of Aintree with a chance, that's a different matter."

Paul Nicholls leads the standings on £2,142,996 at the close of play on Thursday, while there is little to separate Nicky Henderson and Skelton on £1,963,537 and £1,835,558 respectively. Mullins is in fourth place on £1,569,890.

Skelton added: "Willie is going to give it a go and he's not an easy man to beat, but by his own admission Aintree comes very close to Cheltenham and he won't be running horses he's had in mind for Punchestown all along.

"I've got some horses who didn't go to Cheltenham – mind you, he's got plenty to choose from and probably plenty he didn't go with either!"

Protektorat: set to bid for a third course victory at Aintree next monthCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Skelton, who scored a Grade 1 double with Protektorat and My Drogo at the Grand National meeting last year, has another strong team assembled 12 months on.

"The plan is for Protektorat to go," the trainer said. "He seems fine after the Gold Cup, we haven't over-raced him this season so there should be a bit of fuel left in the tank.

"Third Time Lucki goes, so does Allmankind. We've got some nice horses for the novice hurdles – Duke Of Bronte runs in the three-mile race and Elle Est Belle is in the two-and-half-miler – and we have all the handicaps covered, with a runner or two in every one."

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The last Irish trainer to win the British jumps championship was Vincent O'Brien, who did it in 1952-53 and 1953-54.

Commenting on the possibility of the title going overseas, Emma Lavelle, a former president of the National Trainers' Federation who currently chairs its jumps committee, said: "It's an open playing field.

"Everyone has the right to compete in everyone else's races, that's what makes it competitive. It is no different to Aidan O'Brien winning the Flat championship here, although it is remarkable that Willie Mullins has that firepower."

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