Riskintheground

The highlights are striking. In the spring of 2025, he won a top-level Class 1 race at Cheltenham — one of the most prestigious racecourses in Britain — and followed it up with a Class 2 win at Ayr just five days later. He then added another Class 2 at Newton Abbot in October. That Cheltenham win in particular is the kind of result that defines a career. When his trainer Dan Skelton was asked about that day, he admitted the race had been the plan all along: "I always had this race in mind." It worked out exactly as hoped.

His most recent win came at Haydock Park in April 2026, and Skelton's post-race comments were revealing. The trainer noted that Riskintheground simply loves dry spring conditions, and that he had nearly been brought down at Cheltenham's Festival — the biggest jumping meeting of the year — which would have cost him a serious result there too. "He just loves the spring conditions and you can rely on him at this time of the year," Skelton said. What made the Haydock win especially telling was the character it took — the horse looked like he might let it slip, idled in front, but then battled back when challenged. That willingness to dig in matters enormously at this level.

The partnership with jockey Harry Skelton — Dan's brother — is at the heart of how this horse operates. Together they have won 8 of their 28 races, a win rate of 29%, which is genuinely impressive. Dan Skelton's yard is one of the most powerful in British racing right now, having sent out 194 winners already this season, and Riskintheground is one of its established performers in the top tier. His trainer is clear-eyed about where things stand — the handicapper has the horse rated high enough that easy wins are not coming — but also confident that years of experience at this level gives him a genuine edge. At nine years old and still racing, still winning at Class 1 and Class 2, Riskintheground is the kind of horse that simply refuses to let age become an excuse.