Dan Skelton Four-Timer Leaves Bookies Cursing ‘Healthy’ Payout

March 31st Diary Page

Dan Skelton is on the verge of landing the British champion trainer’s title for the 2025/26 season.

And even with the National Hunt campaign entering its final weeks, Skelton still found time to saddle a four-timer on Tuesday – costing bookmakers a considerable sum into the bargain.

The Midlands handler’s horses have a habit of being inconsistent; leading to some accusing him of deliberately holding them back in a bid to lower their handicap mark.

There’s no evidence of that, however, and when things do go right for the Skelton yard, they often go very wrong for the bookmakers…

The Gamble

Action at Bangor-on-Dee and Newcastle were the focal points for the Skelton gamble.

He had four entries across the two meetings:

  • 14:45 Bangor – Coumeenoole
  • 15:50 Bangor – Palamon
  • 16:50 Bangor – Service Minimum
  • 17:00 Newcastle – Tyson

On Monday night, you could have backed that quartet for 1,000/1. By Tuesday lunchtime, the acca was into around 50/1.

The gamble was on…

First was up was Coumeenoole, ridden by Skelton’s brother Harry. Opening at 4/1, the 108-rated seven-year-old would be sent off at an SP of 15/8 in a handicap hurdle at Bangor.

The Irish trained horse hadn’t shown a great deal since switching to the Skelton yard at the start of the season, with a fifth-place finish in a novices’ hurdle at Ascot in February his best effort.

Coumeenoole carried 5lb less than that outing when turning out at Bangor, so it perhaps wasn’t a huge surprise when he ran a bold race at the Welsh track – getting a shake-up before the last, the seven-year-old stayed on well to down Escort’kheops by nearly three lengths.

Xenon Workplace Handicap Hurdle Result (2:45 Bangor)

Position Horse Trainer Jockey SP
1st Coumeenoole Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 15/8 F
2nd Escort’kheops Laura Horsfall Kevin Brogan 11/4
3rd Golden Prince Christian Williams Jack Tudor 14/1

Next up was Palamon, who had been dropped 11lb in the weights since his first run for Skelton in January.

In four outings for the British trainer, Palamon hadn’t gotten within 20 lengths of the winner; extending his winless record over rules to 18 races.

But, in quintessential Skelton fashion, every dog – or horse – has his day. Palamon was backed in from 7/2 to even money favourite by punters, who perhaps sensed something in the air.

And so it would prove as, despite anything but a fluent jumping performance, Palamon got into contention and then showed his speed on the flat run-in to win by more than three lengths.

HRS Cladding Handicap Chase Result (3:50 Bangor)

Position Horse Trainer Jockey SP
1st Palamon Dan Skelton Harry Skelton Evens F
2nd Bleu d’Enfer Donald McCain Charlie Maggs 16/1
3rd Busty Boy Daragh Bourke Sean Bowen 5/1

Acca backers were starting to feel that this might be their day, with Service Minimum the target for a Skelton hat-trick at Bangor.

Opening at 7/4, the six-year-old was backed into 8/15 despite carrying top weight in the 19f mares’ handicap hurdle.

She had previously shown form, winning twice on fast ground in 2025, and despite offering little this year in softer conditions, a return to good ground – and Harry Skelton back in the saddle – proved to be the difference maker.

Service Minimum was never not prominent, and after assuming control of the race heading over the last, she held on comfortably enough to score the hat-trick for Skelton.

Tom Jones Live At Chester Racecourse Mares’ Handicap Hurdle Result (4:50 Bangor)

Position Horse Trainer Jockey SP
1st Service Minimum Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 8/15 F
2nd Nevershedatear Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero Robert Dunne 16/1
3rd Voodoo Angel Donald McCain Charlie Maggs 11/1

Next it was off to Newcastle, where Tyson – 3/1 at market opening, 8/11 by the off – was looking to land the knockout blow for the Skelton gamble.

The six-year-old was another that has tumbled down the weights under Skelton’s charge, opening the year at 102 before contesting Tuesday’s handicap hurdle off a mark of 93.

With the Skelton second string jockey, Tristan Durrell, on board for the first time, Tyson pulled no punches – despite a few jumping errors at the business end of the race came into view.

Tyson, despite not being fluent at the last, showed a decent turn of speed on the homebound straight and had more than enough in hand to hold off his nearest challengers.

Follow @attheraces On X Handicap Hurdle Result (5:00 Newcastle)

Position Horse Trainer Jockey SP
1st Tyson Dan Skelton Tristan Durrell 8/11 F
2nd Ushuaia Dancer Justin Landy Callum Bewley 18/1
3rd Lone Star Philip Kirby Joe Williamson 20/1

Squirrels Go Nuts

It was a four-timer on the day for Skelton, with three of those winners going to the Blind Squirrels ownership group. The BHA’s integrity department reportedly telephoned Skelton on the day for an interview, while all three winners at Bangor were subject to a drugs test.

They were understandably delighted, although the bookmakers that copped a significant payout were rather less enthused by Skelton’s success.

Paddy Power’s Paul Binfield admitted that the Irish firm ‘paid out a fairly healthy sum’, before congratulating the Skeltons and their connections through gritted teeth: “It looks to have been a well‑executed plan by those associated.”

DragonBet co-founder James Lovell, meanwhile, admitted that settling up ‘multiple multiples’ had cost his firm their biggest payout since being established in 2022.

Geoff Banks, who owns a prominent on-course and online bookmaker, was less chirpy, alas.