'We'll put that right' - Dan Skelton on the 23-5 drubbing and Ireland's strength

Dan Skelton has welcomed the Irish challenge at Cheltenham's three-day November meeting and is convinced British racing will put right the 23-5 hammering it suffered at last season's festival, but he warned it may take a few years to address the imbalance.

At the start of the week, 57 entries for Cheltenham this weekend were trained in Ireland. After declarations, 14 line up for Friday's racing with another 18 ready for Saturday and Sunday's action.

Led by powerful strings from Gordon Elliott and last season's Gold Cup-winning trainer Henry de Bromhead, the Irish are returning to the home of jump racing in big numbers for the first time since March's 'greenwash'.

Skelton, whose Nube Negra takes on Champion Chase winner Put The Kettle On in a Cheltenham rematch in the Grade 2 Shloer Chase (2.20) on Sunday, welcomes the challenge on home turf.

Nube Negra (left): reopposes Champion Chase winner Put The Kettle On (right) on SundayCredit: Tim Goode (Getty Images)

Speaking on Racing Post's What A Shout on Friday, Skelton said: "This weekend you've got really nice ground at Cheltenham, lots of prize-money and the Irish trainers and owners love coming here and it ultimately makes it more competitive.

"I'm not worried about it – come over and have a go. If they win a few, great; if they don't then come back next time. There's no point shirking from a challenge and as regards the 23-5 – we'll put that right. It might take a few years to balance out and we all know we've got to do things differently, but that's sport."

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Skelton's former boss Paul Nicholls has won two of Ireland's biggest prizes since the festival with Clan Des Obeaux and Frodon, but Skelton is more wary about sending horses to compete across the Irish Sea given the struggle British-trained horses in March.

He said: "The reason they're coming over to Cheltenham is it's Cheltenham. It's the biggest deal and the Irish love coming over and having runners and being competitive.

"Because it's hard to beat them when they come over here, what's the point in going over there and trying to beat them on home territory? It's a bit lopsided how it's viewed one way to the other because the Irish are winning so much over here."

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