Warwickshire trainer Dan Skelton is ‘home and hosed’ in the 2026 trainers’ championship

Skelton was with Nicholls at his Ditcheat yard for nine years before going out on his own and was runner-up to master trainer Willie Mullins in las year's Championship.

Skelton currently holds a £1.7million lead in the British Trainers' Championship with 139 winners and 366 places from 720 runners so far this season, with Nicholls following him in second.

Betfair ambassador Nicholls has hailed Skelton's record a tthe top of the standings and revealed he always believed that one of his proteges would make it to the top.

Nicholls said: "It is almost impossible for Willie Mullins to win a third Trainers' Championship in a row - a monumental task - so I think Dan Skelton will win. He might beat my record of £3.6m prize money at some stage this season, he could be cracking on for £4m if he goes right in the spring. 'If' is a big word in racing but Willie would have to win everything and the chances of his being first, second and third in the National again are slim.

"Dan is home and hosed, although you can never rest on your laurels where Willie is concerned. That said, Willie has a battle on his hands in Ireland too this year because Gordon is going to make Willie have to go this year.

"Dan was at Ditcheat for nine years and, after three or four years of working with him, I had no doubt that he would be a future champion trainer. I call him "mini-me” because he is like I was at his age, and I expect him to win the title this year."