Deafening Silence

Trained by Dan Skelton at his yard in Alcester, Warwickshire, Deafening Silence operates in elite company. Skelton's operation is one of the most powerful in Britain right now — 187 winners sent out this season alone — so the fact that this horse has earned a regular spot at Class 1 level, the very top tier of British racing, tells you it belongs there. Its most celebrated moment came at Sandown Park in December 2023, winning one of those top-tier races in a performance that announced it as a horse worth taking seriously.

The partnership with jockey Harry Skelton — Dan's brother — has been central to its success. They have won 3 times from 11 races together, a win rate of roughly 1 in 4, which is a strong record at this level. When a jockey rides a horse that often, it usually means both the trainer and the rider trust each other's read of the horse. That relationship clearly works.

The form figures from its last six runs — a win followed by a fifth, second, third, fourth, and then a blank — show a horse that has been close to its best without quite finding the winner's enclosure. Its most recent victory came at Warwick in February 2025, just over 13 months ago. At nine years old, that gap between wins is worth noting, but it has been placed in four of its last five completed races, which suggests it is competing hard. Racing just 15 days ago, it remains very much active and in the mix.

What makes Deafening Silence interesting is the combination of longevity and level. Plenty of horses race at the top end briefly before dropping down — this one has stuck around, kept running against the best, and kept being competitive. That takes a certain kind of horse.