Grand National: Skelton predicting very bright future for Bossman Jack

Bossman Jack led home a one-two for Dan Skelton as he broke Gordon Elliott’s stranglehold on the Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree.

The Cullentra House handler had won four successive renewals of the two-and-a-half-mile Grade One since Skelton struck with My Drogo in 2021, but the champion trainer-elect ended the domination with his 11-4 joint-favourite.

Bryony Frost aboard French raider Rooster Crowing set the early fractions but the duo were joined by Alan King’s Charisma Cat moving down the side of the course, with a whole host of challengers also queueing up to get involved.

Elliott’s joint market-leader Ballyfad and Bossman Jack’s stablemate Soldier Reeves were chief among them and alongside Charisma Cat, the quartet battled it out up the straight.

However, it was Bossman Jack who edged to a narrow advantage at the last and although landing on all fours, it made little difference as he galloped to a commanding five-and-a-half-length win in the hands of Harry Skelton. Soldier Reeves held off Ballyfad for second.

Of the winner, Dan Skelton said:

“He’s always looked liked a very good horse and the mistake at the last at Cheltenham probably cost him being second (finished sixth in Turners’ Novices Hurdle), I’m not sure we’d have beaten the winner (King Rasko Grey).

“He has a big engine but he has a child’s brain. He didn’t jump the best on the way round there today, but hopefully it’s all ahead of him – he could be very, very good.

“I trust him to do all the right things because he wouldn’t know how to be bad, he’s just a child. Hopefully it all gets easier mentally for him and he understands it and his jumping becomes a becomes a bit more reliable.

“He could go a long, long way this horse. I wouldn’t go and call him Gold Cup class because there’s a long way to go, but I think he could be really, really good.”

The Alcester handler was also delighted with the performance of Soldier Reeves, adding:

“He’s only a young horse who has just turned five, but he’ll stay all day and I think he has a big future ahead of him as well.

“He’s one you’d probably stay over hurdles with next year. Even though he’s had a hard-ish season he was never going to be over the top – he wouldn’t know how to be over the top that horse, as he just wants to run.”

The third home Ballyfad did not return to the winner’s enclosure, but he was not thought to have a serious issue.

Eddie O’Leary of owners Gigginstown House Stud said:

“He’s just got a little nick on a leg, we don’t think it’s anything serious.

“He ran a solid race, but he was maybe just a little bit flat as he’s normally a very strong traveller. He’s been to England twice now so that might be why.

“He’ll go chasing next season I’d have thought, ours always do!”