There has always been a suspicion the 10-year-old is happier going the other way round, but his stable face a race against time getting him fresh and happy prior to a possible tilt at the Gold Cup on March 14 and his Gold Cup odds on horse racing betting sites drifted to 33/1 on the back of this lacklustre showing.
Interestingly, Skelton took the likeable grey out of the Ryanair Chase, but left him in the Gold Cup and, with many of The Independent ratified bookmakers offering a non-runner, no bet concession on the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, the 33/1 top price with bet365 could be worth taking.
His impressive 10-length Ascot Chase defeat of Gold Cup aspirant Corbetts Cross, himself left largely unchanged in the Cheltenham odds on betting sites for the Festival feature at 16/1 (top price with bet365), took his record at 21 furlongs to a staggering 1111212111.
If Skelton does decide to stick with Plan A then your stake will be returned, but if connections U-turn and take the Cheltenham route, Grey Dawning could easily be lining up in a seven or eight runner Gold Cup with a terrific chance of finishing in the first three and landing the place part of the bet at very least.
A best-priced 33/1 for the Champion Hurdle on betting apps, the daughter of Golden Horn recorded a career best on the numbers at Wincanton and connections now have a question to answer; be a bit-part player in a Champion Hurdle or a major contender in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, for which she is 8/1 non-runner, no bet with bet365.
