“Magic!” exclaimed jockey Harry Skelton after achieving a first Festival win for himself and his brother, Dan, courtesy of Superb Story in the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle.
Superb Story, an 8/1 shot, was driven clear by Harry to beat 25 rivals and win by two and a half lengths and three and a half lengths from Fethard Player and Sternrubin.
“This is for the staff who graft and graft,” said Harry. “I’m so thankful to Dan [who trains Superb Story] and to Dad [showjumper Nick] who has given us everything. I’ve believed in this horse, and when I saw the last hurdle had been taken out I said to myself, ‘right, get stuck in’.
“In this game a lot of people will knock you down, but you have to be thick skinned and I’m just glad to get the opportunities. I said to Hannah [Nicol, the horse’s groom] a week ago that this was the one. I schooled him yesterday and I couldn’t see him being beaten. Dan has kept him fresh since he ran in the Greatwood Hurdle in November and trained him to the minute.”
He added: “I know we have been given so much by Dad and people think we are lucky, but if ever I have children I will do the same for them. We have still had to take the opportunity and make it work.”
1) Superb Story (A Holt, J Robinson, A Taylor & S Miller) Dan Skelton 5-10-12 Harry Skelton 8/1
2) Fethard Player (William Treacy) William Treacy IRE 9-11-02 David Mullins (3) 33/1
3) Sternrubin (Terry Warner) Philip Hobbs 5-11-02 Tom O’Brien 33/1
4) Wait For Me (Andrew Cohen) Philip Hobbs 6-10-13 Richard Johnson 7/1 Jt Fav
7/1 Jt Fav Great Field