Dan Skelton could run L'Eau Du Sud in open company as he plots Arkle path with impressive Henry VIII winner

L'Eau Du Sud's class was never in doubt but he was forced to prove his resilience as he took one step closer to the Arkle, with a brave victory in the Betfair Henry VIII Novices' Chase. 

The six-year-old was on his toes as he entered the paddock ahead of the Grade 1, but returned to the winner's enclosure a weary and more battle-hardened individual after a prolonged duel with Touch Me Not entering the home straight. 

Harry Skelton edged the favourite ahead at the third-last fence, but Touch Me Not, one of two runners for Gordon Elliott, battled back until the last as L'Eau Du Sud finally pulled clear to win by three and three-quarter lengths. 

"He's never been in that position before where he's actually had to fight; that was the only question coming into it," Dan Skelton said. "He's quite an exuberant jumper and late on it was hard work getting out of it. He was untidy at the last two but the good ones find a way. 

"The biggest lesson I learned there is he's better on slightly better ground, especially over fences."

The Paul Nicholls-trained Rubaud was the only non-runner in the £100,000 contest due to the testing conditions, which were made more gruelling by a strong headwind on the run to the line. 

The track, which survived two inspections on Saturday morning, left all four runners muddy and tired, but Harry Skelton was always confident L'Eau Du Sud had enough reserves to come out on top. 

"He was flicking his ears and I thought he had a bit more left in the tank," said the winning rider. "That's what helped him get home today. 

"Grade 1 races are very hard to come by, they're tough to win and he's got that in his trophy cabinet. 

"I think nothing's going to blow you away on this ground. He came off the bridle and dug deep when he needed to, and that's what separates the good horses from the mediocre ones." 

Team Skelton: Dan and Harry both left Sandown very satisfied after a treble headlined by L'Eau Du Sud'a Grade 1 strikeCredit: Edward Whitaker

L'Eau Du Sud was cut to 6-1 for the Arkle by Paddy Power and Betfair behind triple Grade 1 winner Ballyburn, and the Skelton team are eager to find another prep race ahead of the Cheltenham Festival. 

"It will be the Kingmaker or the Game Spirit," the trainer said. "If Harry had to be at Newbury to ride Protektorat in the Denman Chase and Be Aware in the Betfair Hurdle then I'd have no problem running him in the Game Spirit. We'd likely finish second to Jonbon, but it would be a great run en route to the Arkle. 

"In an ideal world he goes to Warwick, but we'll see. I want to get him absolutely at his peak for the Arkle and I think we've got a pretty exciting contender."

Touch Me Not finished second under Jordan Gainford from stablemate Down Memory Lane with Soul Icon a well-beaten fourth. 

Gainford said: "He was travelling away and that one mistake [at the sixth] knocked the stuffing out of him. It knocked his confidence a bit but he still ran a cracker. 

"He's a young horse who is still learning and hopefully there are more big days ahead."

Arkle Novices' Chase (Cheltenham, March 11)
Paddy Power: 7-4 Ballyburn, 6 L'Eau Du Sud, 8 Inthepocket, Sir Gino, 12 Firefox, Majborough, 16 bar.

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