Noel Fehily: Why Skelton could beat Mullins to Trainer title, young jockeys and four horses to follow

Former jockey and current syndicate owner Noel Fehily has suggested Dan Skelton could beat Willie Mullins to the Champion Trainer title in Britain this season.

The seven-time Cheltenham Festival winning jockey insisted that the Grand National will again hold the key as it did last season.

Speaking to BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest Leopardstown betting, Fehily also picked out four horses to follow this season and three young jockeys who have impressed him.

Just how good is Willie Mullins?

NF: “I suppose he does have a lot of spending power now as well.

“He’s an amazing trainer. You'll probably never see a trainer like him again. He can do it on the flat, and can do it over jumps. He can win Ebors, Breeders’ Cups, Gold Cups, Champions Hurdles, and win over any distance.

“[The Breeders’ Cup win] What a result for racing. To be able to go on do that, take on the big boys when Ethical Diamond’s most recent run before that had been in the Scottish Champion Hurdle where he finished seventh and then at Cheltenham fourth in the County Hurdle takes some doing. It shows Willie walks on water!

“It begs the question how Patrick got beaten in the Scottish Champion Hurdle!

“It was David Casey’s plan to send him to the Breeders’ Cup a plan because his medical history would have ruled him out of the Melbourne Cup which is where Willie would have loved him to go.

“After he won the Ebor, I remember Willie was interviewed and asked whether Melbourne was his next target and Willie said straight away that he wouldn't pass the criteria because he's had a screw put into his knee.

“What a trainer. And what a man as well.

“He wouldn't have many Flat horses. Only a handful of flat horses I'd imagine. But he'd go there and take on the best of the best and beat them comfortably, breaking the track record.

“What a performance, unbelievable.”

Can Dan Skelton pip him to the Champion Trainer title in Britain this season?

NF: “I said at the start of last season when I was up at Dan Skelton’s one morning, that Dan would have no chance because Willie would come back to regain the title a second year running.

“But Willie, as always, didn't really come to England until Cheltenham time. He didn't bring many over before Cheltenham last year.

“He was still a million quid behind on Grand National Day last year. And he still ended up winning it.

“It will be tougher this year. Dan Skelton has started well. The Skelton’s have raised the bar again. It looks like he has a better quality horse this year.

“But look, if Willie comes and wins the Grand National again, then who knows. The Grand National is probably the key really. If Willie comes and wins the Grand National again, then after that he'll throw everything at it again like he did last year. It's hard to rule him out anyway.

What about in Ireland?

NF: “Two years ago Gordon [Elliott] looked like he was threatening, wasn't he? He was ahead going to Punchestown a couple of times and Willie ended up winning everything and smashed him out of the water, didn't he?

“But I don't think Gordon has even got the firepower to take him on. In Ireland there is no-one to take him on.

“Gordon is making a fair old fist of it. He's winning plenty, realistically, he hasn't probably got the Grade 1 chasers like Willie has.

“In Britain Dan Skelton is doing well in this country, and I think he will put it up to Willie this year

“I think so [best in Britain], both quality and quantity wise. He looks like he's upped the quality again this year. He's definitely come back hungry looking for more again this year. As I said, starting last year, I couldn't see him beating Willie, but he nearly did. He was a million in front at the National. Dan will be unlucky if Willie does the same this season.

“It must have hurt. It must have really hurt. I remember I spoke to him on Grand National morning and I said, ‘You’re still a million in front, so you’ve got a chance.’

“He said: ‘I’d be unlucky if Willie picks up that amount of prize money in the National.’

“But he did!

“Willie will have to win the Grand National again or else he'd have to start bringing them over to Britain a lot earlier, which doesn't seem to be in Willie's regime. He just has his way of doing it and that's that. He only starts bringing them out now in Ireland, doesn't he?

“He never really wants to travel with them before Christmas. And even after Christmas, he doesn't travel with them that much.

“The big ones don't ever seem to come until Cheltenham and then Aintree. If he gets a good Aintree, he’ll throw the kitchen sink at it again.

“Dan is doing really well. I think he's probably the most likely one to take it off Willie over here.

“If Dan ups the game over here and becomes champion again, you never know, it could start to turn. It'll definitely be good for English racing.

“These things are cyclical. It was not that long ago Paul Nicholls was winning everything in England and was nearly champion in Ireland one year.”

Does Nicky Henderson have a chance?

NF: “Nicky has a lovely team of horses. He has Sir Gino and then he has Constitution Hill if he comes by. Nicky always has a good team of horses, but has he got the fire power to be Champion trainer? Probably not.”

What do you make of Constitution Hill?

NF: “He was the world-beater. Then he started taking a few chances. He won at Cheltenham in the Trials meeting, he nearly went at the last. He has just started getting a bit too brave and he was starting to stand off. And then I think he did get a fall at Cheltenham.

“It’s amazing how it can affect the horse's confidence. At Aintree he just looked like his confidence was a bit rattled, and at Punchestown he was completely gone.

“I was surprised that Nicky took him to Punchestown. But if anyone can get him back it will be Nicky.

“I think he could come back but he needs to go and win the Fighting Fifth. He needs to get his head in front again now again and a clear round. That can boost your confidence.

“He has to go well there. If he doesn't go well there, he won’t come back in my opinion.

Do you have four horses for people to follow this season?

NF: “Final Demand: He was seriously impressive. He looks like a Gold Cup horse in waiting.

“L’Eau du Sud: He was again impressive. On his most recent run, I think there’s another big run in him. We'll see how he gets on in the Tingle Creek.

“No Drama This End: He'll be winning. I’ll be interested in how he goes. He's going to go to Newbury for the Challow. He hacked up first time over hurdles as well. He hadn't run an English point to point. First time over Hurdles, he absolutely hacked up. Very impressive.

“Baron Noir: Hopefully we’ll have a good one in him. He won in grand style in the Bumper at Punchestown last year. We can’t wait to see him over a hurdle this season. He should be very exciting and one to fly the flag for us in some of the better novice hurdles.”

And have any young jockeys caught your eye?

NF: “Sean Bowen has been unbelievable this season. He's still only young. He's raised the bar massively. He's riding really well.

“Caoilin Quinn rode a winner for us the other day. He's probably the stable jockey to Gary Moore with Niall Houlihan out for a year. He’s talented. I think he'll get plenty of support from Gary Moore. He could go places.

“Dan Williams: He used to work here for me. He had his first winner, Final Straw on Monday for Nicky Henderson at Plumpton. Watch out for him. He’s a very good rider. He started riding out for me when he was about 16. I got him a job at Henderson's 18 months ago. He rides Constitution Hill every day, and Lulamba and Sir Gino who won the Fighting fifth last season.”

Are you optimistic about the future of racing?

NF: “I'm always glass half full. I think we have a great sport and there's plenty of fun to be had in the game, plenty of enjoyment. I think we probably are facing a tough time with what will happen in the budget and everything else. I still think we have a great sport. We need to bang that drum a bit more.”