Kabral du Mathan

Earlier this year, Kabral du Mathan stepped up to Class 1 company at Cheltenham and won impressively, jumping beautifully and travelling like a dream through the race. The excitement was real. But the result exposed something important: he ran out of petrol over the full distance. Skelton, speaking after the race, was candid about it. "He travelled unbelievably, jumped brilliant but just didn't see it out," the trainer said. That effort told them something crucial about where this horse belongs. Rather than chase the same target again, Skelton has shifted his thinking entirely. The plan now is to send Kabral du Mathan over fences—a move that could unlock another level altogether.

The numbers back up this upward trajectory. From nine career races, Kabral du Mathan has won five times and finished in the top 3 another eight times—a win rate of roughly one win in every two races. At the highest level, Class 1 races, he has won once from three attempts, which shows he can mix it with the best even if consistency at that grade remains a work in progress. The Perth victory came on ground conditions he clearly relishes, and Skelton has spoken about the horse's work at home being very encouraging. The question now isn't whether Kabral du Mathan has ability—that's settled—but whether switching him to jumping over fences is the move that finally gets the best out of him. For a horse showing this kind of form, and this kind of potential, we may not have to wait long to find out.