WHEN asked if he was heading to the Cheltenham Festival with his best team to date, Dan Skelton had a simple answer.
Oh yeah, youre bloody right. Its definitely my strongest.
The ambitious trainer banged in a double at Prestbury Park last season with Roksana and Chtibello.
But it is younger horses like Allmankind and Maire Banrigh that have Skelton waxing lyrical this time around.
The story behind Triumph Hurdle fancy Allmankind is remarkable and the Lodge Hill handler is in no doubt he holds his best hand of the week.
Skelton said: When he first came from Michael Bell I actually sent a text to the owner Bill Gredley saying this could be a complete waste of time.
But he got to the track and I knew exactly what was coming, I just had no idea whether hed keep going or not. Thankfully he did.
Keep going he certainly did. Despite being bred for a Derby rather than a hurdle, hes unbeaten over sticks and a Grade 1 winner.
Hell square off against Goshen and the best of the Irish in just over two weeks time and Skelton is licking his lips.
The Ladbrokes ambassador added: Weve never had one going into the Festival as near favourite for one of the Grade 1 Novices and we know what will come after is very exciting.
I think he has to be my best chance. I know hes shortest in the betting and its easy to say but theres more to it.
If Maire Banrigh won the Arkle shes a legitimate winner but people would be a bit downbeat.
But if Allmankind won everyone would be saying he could be a Champion Hurdle horse. Hes a legitimate long-term top-end contender.
Hes about as exciting a youngster as weve had.
His front-running tactics are now well known and with Goshen in the same category, it could be some tear-up.
Skelton admitted: He kind of is one-dimensional but if someone wanted to go quicker than him we dont have to take them on.
If somebody is going to go out ridiculously fast out there we can take a lead.
Hes a bit like a coiled spring or a bottle of champagne ready to pop and I didnt want to lose that by going to Cheltenham in January.
The Irish races havent added to their strength and between us and Goshen it will be a proper race.
Maire Banrigh is another leading light from the Warwickshire yard. Unbeaten over fences shell head to the Arkle with a live chance.
Skelton said: We get 7lbs for her being a mare and that means shes a 155 horse.
And you know sometimes that can win you an Arkle so on numbers shes very much a player.
She jumps well, is a strong traveller and sees out two miles very well.
In these big races at the Festival you want a horse that sees out a little bit further than the trip and thats her.
Shes won her four going into it, hardly breaking sweat, and youve got to respect that.
Roksana took home the Mares Hurdle last spring after the infamous last flight fall of Benie Des Dieux.
After an up and down season shell defend her crown against the might of the Irish.
Skelton said: No one will forget what she did at Cheltenham. It may have been fortuitous but you have to jump them to win and we did that.
I will have her as best as she can be and I expect her to be bang there two out. Its up to her then.
A whiteboard in the Skelton yard displays the countdown to Day 1 of Cheltenham in writing so big you cant miss it.
And with 17 days to go, the excitement is building within the team.
Skelton said: I dont feel pressure, but I feel excitement and that bubbles in to expectation.
What Ive done this year is Ive not gone too far. If the owners want to get excitable then fine, but what Im not going to do is get ahead of myself and then lead them on.
But were always thinking about the Festival here, it means a lot to us. Im already thinking about next year!
Form is all important come the second week of March and its set to be an important weekend for the Skelton team at Kempton and Newcastle.
An Eider Chase winner would be the perfect way to get the pre-Festival ball rolling.
Very First Time is vying for favouritism in Newcastles big staying chase and Skelton is confident of a big run.
He said: He should have a great chance, hes an improved horse.
I wouldnt mind it drying out a bit but thats not to say I wouldnt fancy him anyway. Id fancy him more if it did though. Im very happy with him.
Stable favourite Chtibello is likely to skip the Festival this year in favour of Aintree and will take his chance in the Kingwell today.
West Cork is set to fly the flag in the Grade 2 Dovecote Novices Hurdle at Kempton.
Skelton said: If the handicapper is right West Cork should win.
Theres more to come from him, even more so as a chaser. At the start of the year he was just a bit dumb so weve started to make his mind up for him.
