Soleil d'Arizona

Dan Skelton trains her out of his yard in Alcester, Warwickshire, and that yard has been in serious form this season — 198 winners and counting, which is the output of a operation firing on all cylinders. When Skelton speaks about Soleil d'Arizona, though, he is candid. Her first win came at Haydock Park in April 2025, and afterwards he admitted she is not exactly a pleasure to watch, and that his jockey Harry Skelton confirmed it was not much easier to ride. There have been little issues to iron out along the way. What struck him, though, was what happened after the final jump: she stuck her nose out and really wanted to win. That kind of attitude tends to matter more over time than a silky style.

Harry Skelton has been on board for 7 of her 14 races and they have won 3 of them together — a win rate of 43%, or nearly 3 in every 7 rides. That is a strong partnership by any measure. The ground matters too: all three wins have come on normal conditions, where she has won 3 of 9 races. Put her on wet or muddy ground and the record tells a different story.

Her most striking stat is at Warwick, just up the road from the yard. Two wins from three visits there is the kind of record that makes trainers keep coming back — and they clearly have. Her most recent win came at Warwick in September 2025, though she has gone the last six races without adding to that tally. Her recent form — a ninth, a sixth, and a fifth in her last completed races — suggests she is knocking on the door without quite getting through it.

Skelton's view heading into spring and summer was that easier weather and firmer ground would help her find another win or two. With normal conditions suiting her so well, and Warwick likely to remain a happy hunting ground, the ingredients are there. Whether she can string a run together is the question — but a horse that sticks its nose out at the finish has not given up trying.