Belle Le Grand

That right day tends to come on normal ground. All four of her career wins have come when conditions are neither wet nor baked, and her record in those circumstances is striking — four wins from eight races, meaning she has won half the time when the ground has suited her. When it turns soft or muddy, the picture changes entirely. Dan Skelton has said as much himself, noting that she ran well below her best on wet ground at Hexham and that the plan is to find better conditions for her going forward. That is not a minor detail — it is basically the key to understanding her. Pick the right day and she is a different horse.

The partnership with Harry Skelton, Dan's brother, has been particularly productive. In six races together they have won three, which is a 50% win rate — an extraordinary return that suggests the two have a real understanding. Belle Le Grand's most recent win came at Newton Abbot just five weeks ago, so she arrives in her current form in good shape, and her last six results — including that win and a couple of placed efforts — suggest she is in a decent spell of form right now.

The yard itself is operating at a remarkable level this season, having sent out 198 winners — a figure that speaks to an operation firing on all cylinders. Belle Le Grand is one of many contributors to that tally, and Skelton's comments suggest there is quiet optimism about what she might achieve on a nice spring day when the ground is in her favour. She opened her account at Fairyhouse back in October 2024, and since then has added to her record steadily. Not a horse to shout about at a dinner party, perhaps — but exactly the sort you would quietly back on a dry afternoon.