'It feels amazing' - Harry Skelton crowned champion jump jockey in Britain

Harry Skelton sealed a first jump jockeys' title on Thursday after his nearest rival Brian Hughes could manage only a single winner at Perth.

Skelton, who was in action at Exeter and was again in the winner's enclosure, began the day ten winners ahead of reigning champion Hughes, whose sole success on Fanzio in the 2m handicap chase meant the gap is too big to close before the season ends on Saturday.

The son of Olympic gold medal-winning showjumper Nick, Skelton endured some quiet campaigns after breaking out in his youth, but has become one of the weighing room's most accomplished and dependable performers in recent seasons.

Backed by his brother Dan, who runs a prolific yard in Warwickshire, he seized the opportunity with both hands.

Harry Skelton: season to rememberCredit: Michael Steele (Getty Images)

"It feels amazing," he said on Thursday night from Exeter. "It'll be my name on the trophy, but there's so many other people as well.

"As a child growing up and from when I came into racing it's all I ever wanted to achieve. It'll take a while for it to sink in properly, but it's a big weight off the shoulders."

Skelton has ridden 151 winners this season and 136 of those were supplied by his sibling.

"We missed the first couple of months of the season because of Covid-19 and we went to Southwell on the first day with nine runners and had one winner," he added on Racing TV. "I think we jumped back in the car and Dan and I looked at each other and probably had a bit of a reality check. I'm in a lucky position and had some fantastic winners over the winter and enough to make me champion as well."

Those winners include two on a magical December afternoon at Sandown when Skelton won a brace of Grade 1s on Allmankind (Henry VIII Novices' Chase) and Politologue (Tingle Creek) in the space of some 40 minutes.

Watch Skelton win on the exciting My Drogo at Aintree this month

He went on: "I've got Shannon Bridge to thank a lot – he was the turning point for me. I came out of Ascot after winning on him in February and I thought, 'There's a sniff here'. Once I got that we were on the road to fight it out.

"I'm not going to stand here and say it's been easy. It's been a battle and there is a lot of thought that has gone into it, but I've had people around me to help me cope and I've enjoyed it because it's something I wanted to achieve.

"I'd much rather be willing to put up that fight than not at all."

Skelton, married to fellow rider Bridget Andrews, is also associated with potential star of the future My Drogo and relishes being in his position – one he may never have dreamed of after riding just eight winners in the 2012-13 season.

"I'm lucky I've got so many horses to ride," said the 31-year-old, whose first major win came on Niche Market in the 2009 Irish Grand National.

Allmankind: big winner at Sandown in December for SkeltonCredit: Edward Whitaker

"A fellow colleague asked me how I move on from things that don't go right, but I'm very lucky I can go out – normally 30 minutes later – and put it right. I'm in that privileged position. There are tough days, that's sport, but you've got to enjoy the good days as well.

"Dad basically turned my career around and started Dan on his path – without him we wouldn't be stood here. The best day of my life, or one of them, was seeing him win a gold medal and hopefully this has made him very proud.

"There are some long old days gone into it, but I can't thank everyone enough. I'm looking for to getting the trophy at Sandown on Saturday and just hope I can soak it all in."

Dan Skelton said of his brother: "Pride is the overriding emotion we're all feeling here. A couple of days ago we felt we were there all bar the official-ness but that's what you want to get, so it's brilliant.

"Brian has been a fantastic competitor and had a brilliant season himself, but Harry has kept pushing, working hard and it shows what you can do with that attitude and a bit of support from people."

Pistol Whipped sails over a fence under Nico de BoinvilleCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Pistol on target for Henderson

Nicky Henderson will lose his status as champion trainer to Paul Nicholls this week, but he has been credited as the inspiration for Pistol Whipped's resurgence, which resulted in the seven-year-old making it two on the bounce in the feature 2m4f handicap chase at Perth.

Owned by Anthony and Mark Speelman, Pistol Whipped won on his debut over fences last season, but had perhaps disappointed until making all at Plumpton this month.

He followed up in style under Nico de Boinville and Mark Speelman said: "It's thanks to Nicky's suggestion of making the running at Plumpton last time, as being able to dominate in small fields does seem to suit him, while his jumping has been great on this good sort of ground.

"It seems to have worked and must be the key to him. Dad's had horses with Nicky for about 23 years and he still absolutely loves it – he's delighted."

The victory was Henderson's 100th of the season.

Results, replays and analysis

Read more on the Skelton success story:

'I always feel I've stuff to prove' – a day with Brian Hughes and Harry Skelton

'It's David and Goliath' – McCain says Skelton's firepower too much for Hughes

Harry Skelton cut to 4-6 for jockeys' title after Stratford four-timer

Harry Skelton posts ninth winner of the week to boost jockeys' title prospects

Dan Skelton will get 'no greater pleasure' than helping brother Harry to title

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