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26 Apr 26
10:44
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Date Joined:
10 Apr 25
..if you were Paul Nicholls and the apprentice you trained as an up and coming trainer, taught him your habits and thoughts and even secrets and now the young padawan has left you for dust and likely taken a percentage of potential owners away from you as well?
I think Skelton is brilliant, and fair play to Nicholls who has clearly given him a proper grounding and foundation in training racehorses at the highest level.
I think Skelton is brilliant, and fair play to Nicholls who has clearly given him a proper grounding and foundation in training racehorses at the highest level.
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I’ve said on here a before a quote from Mr Pickles about his then understudy, it says more than I thought back then.
He said that Dan , “”was a great lad but struggled to get past page 3 when reading the Sun of a morning!””
It made me crack up at the time but how wrong was he looking back?!
The wolf in sheep’s clothing!
One thing I learnt at work as a Scenic Artist, never show them anything or you’d be out on your ear. Designers were always keen to ask how something was done, they’d try to watch and learn, I saw them trying to imitate what I did themselves.
Knowledge as they say is power.
He said that Dan , “”was a great lad but struggled to get past page 3 when reading the Sun of a morning!””
It made me crack up at the time but how wrong was he looking back?!
The wolf in sheep’s clothing!
One thing I learnt at work as a Scenic Artist, never show them anything or you’d be out on your ear. Designers were always keen to ask how something was done, they’d try to watch and learn, I saw them trying to imitate what I did themselves.
Knowledge as they say is power.
A struggling artist would be ideal to come and decorate my house! How you fixed?
training horses cant be that difficult wonce you nah the dance..400m athletes have the same regime..have to have an engine or nen gud.
We should not overlook Harry's contribution. Good jockeys make a difference and I think Nicholls has struggled a bit since Ruby left (some years back now) and even since Bryony left as she was probably the best second string jockey in the country.
Why are so many jockeys named Harry? Prince Harry?
Why are so many jockeys named Harry? Prince Harry?
A lot of the new owners who came into the game seeing the kauto star, denman cult status and wanted a piece of that maybe?
Most of the credit must go to the Skelton family. Dad Nick was a world class rider and has been a constant presence. Harry has grown into the job as the yard has grown in size and quality, backroom staff seem to stay for a long time. Their horses mostly jump really well. And of course Dan is very good at the job.
Contrast Harry Fry who had an equally good start after leaving Ditcheat but has not really made much impact. The jury is out on Harry Derham but so far he is showing a lot of promise. Paul Nicholls will be motivated to keep up with the Skeltons but short of doubling the size of his yard, it will be hard. Fourth place behind Skelton, Mullins and Henderson is still an achievement with the likes of Olly Murphy and Ben Pauling growing their strings every year.
Contrast Harry Fry who had an equally good start after leaving Ditcheat but has not really made much impact. The jury is out on Harry Derham but so far he is showing a lot of promise. Paul Nicholls will be motivated to keep up with the Skeltons but short of doubling the size of his yard, it will be hard. Fourth place behind Skelton, Mullins and Henderson is still an achievement with the likes of Olly Murphy and Ben Pauling growing their strings every year.
s.kenbo • April 26, 2026 7:53 PM BST
A struggling artist would be ideal to come and decorate my house! How you fixed?
Hah Ken thanks for the offer! I’m alright mate and even a struggling artist doesn’t equal a cheap tosher!
My days of rubbing down and making good are for my drum only nowadays!
A struggling artist would be ideal to come and decorate my house! How you fixed?
Hah Ken thanks for the offer! I’m alright mate and even a struggling artist doesn’t equal a cheap tosher!
My days of rubbing down and making good are for my drum only nowadays!
Ken I sold a painting recently for £3000 took me 3 hours after lunch, but don’t tell the owners! 
A nice days work. I’d imagine when you’re filing your self assessment you sell five of those a year!
You are obviously not doing too bad Delashay.
You only gave £3,500 for it.
You only gave £3,500 for it.
It will be interesting to see how Skelton does with top class horses over the next few years, given he should be getting more of them.
Obviously he can do the business lining horses up for a target eg Langer Dan and have lots of winners, but hasn't been able to have a consistent top notcher yet as Nicholls, Mullins and Henderson have done.
To be fair to Nicholls what he did with Kauto, Denman and Masterminded was a joy to watch and absolutely brilliant training.
Obviously he can do the business lining horses up for a target eg Langer Dan and have lots of winners, but hasn't been able to have a consistent top notcher yet as Nicholls, Mullins and Henderson have done.
To be fair to Nicholls what he did with Kauto, Denman and Masterminded was a joy to watch and absolutely brilliant training.
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