Harry Skelton crowned David Power Jockeys’ Cup champion

Harry Skelton was crowned the inaugural winner of the David Power Jockeys’ Cup after the opening race at Aintree on Thursday.

Having ridden Boombawn to finish fourth behind Impaire Et Passe in the opening Manifesto Novices’ Chase, the rider was 78 points clear of Harry Cobden and 80 ahead of third-placed Nico de Boinville.

With both rivals not having a full book of rides over Thursday and Friday, it was a gap that neither could mathematically bridge.

Skelton collects the £500,000 first prize, his brother and principal trainer Dan Skelton the £50,000 trainer pot, with the same amount to be shared among the stable staff at the yard.

“I’d like to bring everyone together and enjoy this as a team,” Skelton smiled when asked what celebrations were planned.

“It’s a great honour to be picking up the trophy in memory of David Power and thanks to Paddy Power and Flutter for creating the opportunity. For any jump jockey to win this sort of money is quite remarkable, it’s never happened before.

“Hopefully, going forward we can all support this and if it helps racing in any way in terms of getting our personalities out to the wider world then we’re all for it.

“I always thought I had a decent chance because I knew Dan is a man who is trying to become champion trainer and the good prize money in all these ITV races, so I thought I had a realistic chance of being up there but obviously there’s stiff competition with Harry Cobden, Nico and Sam Twiston-Davies.

“And don’t forget prize-money is down to tenth, £10,000 for the man or woman who finishes there. The equivalent of that is trying to win a race worth around £150,000. It’s incredible, an incredible opportunity for jump jockeys.

“I’ve started a family now and half a million pounds is an awful lot of money that can hopefully support my family for a long time. Anyone who has kids is trying to give them the best start in life and this can really support that.

“But I want to enjoy this with a lot of the people who helped me get there; the owners, everyone. I’d like to get everyone together, everyone who helped me achieve this. It felt like a real team effort.”

Aintree Day 1 summary

Skelton ended the day on 412 points thanks to runner-up finishes for Live Conti in the Juvenile Hurdle, Grey Dawning in the Bowl and Calico in the Red Rum Handicap Chase.

Skelton was also third on Take No Chances in an eventful Aintree Hurdle in which Constitution Hill was a faller once again under Nico de Boinville.

The race was won by Lossiemouth who was ridden by Paul Townend who made the most of more Willie Mullins domination, picking up wins on Impaire Et Passe in the opening Manifesto Novices’ Chase before adding further success 35 minutes later on Murcia. He is now just four points off 10 points, and will have his sights set on overhauling Charlie Deutsch and Ben Jones who are currently 32 points ahead of him in joint-seventh.

Harry Cobden secured points thanks to an all-the-way win on Sans Bruit in the Red Rum, meaning he will head into day two of the Randox Grand National Festival – the final day of the David Power Jockeys’ Cup – with an 18-point cushion over third-placed de Boinville.

Meanwhile, Caoilin Quinn picked up four points as he bids to pick up first prize in the race to be leading conditional. He is now just eight points behind leader Dylan Johnston, however, unless he picks up any spare rides on Friday he won’t be able to catch the leader. Patrick Wadge has two rides in ITV races on Friday but would need to win both races – and Johnston not to pick up any points – if he is to take top spot.