Harry Skelton (born 20 September, 1989) is a British

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...

who competes in

National Hunt racing In horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Republic of Ireland, National Hunt racing requires horses to jump fences and ditches. National Hunt racing in the UK is informally known as "jumps" and is divided into two major distinct branches: ...

. Skelton was the 2020-2021 British Champion Jump Jockey.

Career

Skelton started his racing career with Richard Hannon on the flat, before switching to jump racing and joined his brother, Dan, who was assistant trainer to Paul Nicholls in Somerset. In 2009, he became the youngest winner of the

Irish Grand National The Irish Grand National is a National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Fairyhouse over a distance of about 3 miles and 5 furlongs (5,834 ...

on Niche Market trained by Bob Buckler. In 2011, he won his first Grade 2 race with Celestial Halo in the

National Spirit Hurdle The National Spirit Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Fontwell Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 3 ...

at Fontwell Park. In 2013, Skelton joined his brother who had set up Dan Skelton Racing in Warwickshire as the new yards lead jockey. Skelton has won a number of Grade 1 races including four at the

Cheltenham Festival The Cheltenham Festival is a horse racing-based meeting in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, with race prize money second only to the Grand National. The four-day festival takes place annually in March at Cheltenham Rac ...

. In 2021, he was crowned British champion jump Jockey for the first time, riding 152 winners in the season. In the same year, Skelton was awarded "Jump Jockey of the Year" at the Lester Awards.

Personal life

Skelton is the son of British gold medal winning Olympian

Nick Skelton Nicholas David Skelton (born 30 December 1957, Bedworth, Warwickshire) is a British former equestrian who competed in show jumping. He retired at the age of 59 years old, on 5 April 2017. He began riding at age 18 months and in 1975 took two t ...

and brother of horse racing trainer Dan Skelton. In 2019, he married fellow jockey Bridget Andrews.

Cheltenham Festival winners (4)

Queen Mother Champion Chase The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the onl ...

- (1)

Politologue Politologue (foaled 12 May 2011) is a French-bred racehorse who competes in National Hunt racing. After winning one race in his native country he was sent to race in England and won two Novice Hurdle races in the 2015/16 season. In the followi ...

(2019) *

David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle The David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle, currently known for sponsorship purposes as the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle, is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to mares aged four years or older. It ...

- (1) Roksana (2019) * County Handicap Hurdle - (2) Superb Story (2016), Ch'tibello (2019)

Major wins

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...

Henry VIII Novices' Chase The Henry VIII Novices' Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles ...

- (1) Allmankind (2020) *

Tingle Creek Chase The Tingle Creek Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles (1 mil ...

- (1)

(2020) *

Kauto Star Novices' Chase The Kauto Star Novices' Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles (4,828 metres ...

- (1) Shan Blue (2020) *

Finale Juvenile Hurdle The Finale Juvenile Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged three years. It is run at Chepstow over a distance of about 2 miles (2 miles and 11 yards, ...

- (1) Allmankind (2019) *

Manifesto Novices' Chase The Manifesto Novices' Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Aintree Racecourse, Ain ...

- (1) Protektorat (2021) *

Betfair Chase The Betfair Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of about 3 miles and furlongs (3 miles 1 furlong ...

- (1) Protektorat (2022) * Mersey Novices' Hurdle - (1) My Drogo (2021)

References

1990 births Living people British jockeys British Champion jumps jockeys Lester Award winners {{UK-horseracing-bio-stub