The lot of a jockey can be relentless, hopping from Taunton one afternoon to Lingfield Park the following night, clocking up miles upon miles in that insatiable quest for the next winner.
For champion jockey Harry Skelton, it comes with an added dimension. As well as riding 152 winners last season, he is also an integral part of the Lodge Hill operation headed up by his trainer brother Dan.
“The fact is, as well as being a jockey, I have a full-time job here,” he explains. “The days I’m not racing, I’m riding out at home, in the yard and working.
“It’s not like if I get a day off from racing, it’s a day off and I put my feet up. It’s very hands-on but I love it.”
Last season, the brothers got close to a double championship win, his brother — four years his senior — pushing Paul Nicholls close in the trainers’ championship. A fraternal double remains the currently elusive goal.
“To win the jockeys’ title was always a dream I wanted to get as a kid,” said the younger Skelton. “But winning both is the ultimate dream, that’s what we’re going for.
“That’s not necessarily the next one on the list but one of the things — it takes planning as I only ride for Dan predominantly. I get a few others rides but my main priority is being around to ride his horses.”
In doing so, he arrived at Cheltenham with chances in a trio of big races: Wednesday's Champion Chase, the Ryanair on Thursday and then the Gold Cup on Friday, when he will board 8-1 shot Protektorat.
“That’s where you want to be riding, in those races and with chances, which I’ve got,” he said. “It’s my first ride in the Gold Cup and the first runner for the yard.
“When you do get a win at the Festival it’s so special. It gives you a winning feeling like no other place but it’s so hard to win there.
“People say don’t get too excited but it’s hard as everyone’s buzzing. Cheltenham is our Olympics and everyone gets a kick out of it. If you’re not excited about it, then you’re in the wrong game really.
“There are other races outside the Festival that are important with very good prize money that you want to win, but those four days are where everyone dreams and aspires to be.
“If you’re riding an eight per cent strike rate for the season but you have a Cheltenham Festival winner, you’ve still had a fantastic year. It trumps everything else.”
That Skelton double act is part of a British effort to claw back the deficit to the Irish contingent, who dominated last year’s Festival.
Skelton Jr believes what he calls a “more realistic” English handicap this year with horses will help.
“And you’re the home side, so you want to win,” he added. “But as well as the Irish to beat we’ve got all the English to beat as well.”
The Skelton brothers have had the perfect grounding for their Cheltenham pedigree, having previously been placed under the tutelage of Nicholls at Ditcheat and his previous No1 jockey Ruby Walsh. Both were like a sponge for information from the pair throughout their time before setting up their own Lodge Hill operation.
A dual fraternal operation might have its setbacks on paper, but the pair remain close.
As Harry puts it: “We get on great. Nothing is taken too much to heart. I can say what I think and he can, too. Blood is thicker than water and to do it for my brother is very special.”
The Cheltenham Festival will be broadcast live on ITV1 from 12.40pm to 4.30pm. Visit greatbritishracing.com for more info.
