{{Short description|British jockey}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox horseracing personality | name = Harry Skelton | image = Harry Skelton at Sandown 2016 (cropped-J1).jpg | caption = Skelton at Sandown 2016 | occupation = Jockey | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|09|20|df=y}} | spouse = {{unbulleted list|{{marriage|[[Bridget Andrews]]|2019}}}} | children = 2 | career winnings = £8,085,487<ref name="hsatr">{{cite web|url=https://www.attheraces.com/form/jockey/Harry-Skelton/1190535|title=Harry Skelton|publisher=At The Races|access-date=10 September 2022}}</ref> | career wins = 1095<ref name="hsatr"/> | race = Mersey Novices Hurdle (2021) <br> Manifesto Novices' Chase (2021) <br> Kauto Star Novices' Chase (2020) <br> Tingle Creek Chase (2020) <br> Henry VIII Novices' Chase (2020) <br> Queen Mother Champion Chase (2020) <br> Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle (2019) <br> David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle (2019) | awards = British Champion Jump Jockey (2020/2021) | horses = My Drogo, Protektorat, Shan Blue, Politologue, Allmankind, Roksana | website = }} '''Harry Skelton''' (born 20 September 1989<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/leading-jump-jockey-harry-skelton-among-those-celebrating-on-thursday/346494|title=Leading jump jockey Harry Skelton among those celebrating on Thursday|publisher=Racing Post|access-date=14 September 2022}}</ref>) is a British [[jockey]] who competes in [[National Hunt racing]]. Skelton was the 2020–2021 [[British jump racing Champion Jockey|British Champion Jump Jockey]].
==Career== Skelton started his racing career with [[Richard Hannon Jr.|Richard Hannon]] on the flat, before switching to jump racing and joined his brother, Dan, who was assistant trainer to [[Paul Nicholls (horse racing)|Paul Nicholls]] in Somerset.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/paul-nicholls-guiding-risingstar-harry-skelton-on-path-to-success-6836745.html|title=Paul Nicholls guiding rising-star Harry Skelton on path to success|publisher=London Evening Standard|access-date=15 September 2022}}</ref> In 2009, he became the youngest winner of the [[Irish Grand National]] on Niche Market trained by Bob Buckler.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/apr/14/horse-racing-irish-grand-national|title=Niche Market springs Irish Grand National shock at 33-1|date=April 13, 2009|website=The Guardian}}</ref> In 2011, he won his first Grade 2 race with Celestial Halo in the [[National Spirit Hurdle]] at [[Fontwell Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/racing/arid-30495354.html|title=Celestial Halo ends barren run|publisher=The Irish Examiner|access-date=15 September 2022}}</ref>
In 2013, Skelton joined his brother who had set up Dan Skelton Racing in Warwickshire as the new yard's lead jockey.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/mar/14/dan-harry-skelton-losing-horse-heartbreaking-cheltenham-festival-racing|title=Dan and Harry Skelton: ‘Losing a horse is the worst part of the job. It’s heartbreaking'|publisher=The Guardian|access-date=15 September 2022}}</ref> Skelton has won a number of Grade 1 races including four at the [[Cheltenham Festival]]. In 2021, he was crowned [[British jump racing Champion Jockey|British champion jump Jockey]] for the first time, riding 152 winners in the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.greatbritishracing.com/news/harry-skelton-claims-first-champion-jump-jockey-title/|title=Harry Skelton claims first Champion Jump Jockey title|publisher=Great British Racing|access-date=15 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/harry-skelton-why-becoming-champion-jockey-again-looks-a-tall-order/509282|title=Harry Skelton: why becoming champion jockey again looks a tall order|publisher=Racing Post|access-date=15 September 2022}}</ref> In the same year, Skelton was awarded "Jump Jockey of the Year" at the Lester Awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/racing/news/12426/12550378/the-lesters-2021-william-buick-named-flat-jockey-of-the-year-as-harry-skelton-takes-top-jumps-prize|title=The Lesters 2021: William Buick named Flat Jockey of the Year as Harry Skelton takes top Jumps prize|publisher=Sky Sports|access-date=15 September 2022}}</ref>
==Personal life== Skelton is the son of British [[Equestrian at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Team jumping|gold medal winning]] Olympian [[Nick Skelton]] and brother of horse racing trainer [[Dan Skelton]]. In 2019, he married fellow jockey [[Bridget Andrews]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/features/harry-skelton-740101/amp|title=Harry Skelton: everything you need to know about this jockey|website=www.horseandhound.co.uk}}</ref> Andrews gave birth to their son Rory on 27 April 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/skelton-baby-whitaker-baby-858043|website=Horse and Hound|accessdate=15 May 2024|title=Welcome to the next generation of Skeltons and Whitakers: ‘We have a Nations Cup team now!’|first=Jennifer |last=Donald|date=13 May 2024}}</ref>
== Cheltenham Festival winners (12) == * [[Queen Mother Champion Chase]] - (1) [[Politologue]] (2020) * [[Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle]] - (1) The New Lion (2025) * [[Ryanair Chase]] - (1) Protektorat (2024) * [[Golden Miller Novices' Chase]] - (1) Grey Dawning (2024) * [[David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle]] - (1) Roksana (2019) * [[County Handicap Hurdle]] - (2) Superb Story (2016), Ch'tibello (2019) * [[Coral Cup]] - (2) Langer Dan (2023, 2024) * [[Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase]] - (1) Unexpected Party (2024) * [[Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase]] - (1) Madara (2026) * [[Pertemps Final]] - (1) Supremely West (2026)
==Major wins== {{flagicon|UK}} '''[[Great Britain]]''' * [[Henry VIII Novices' Chase]] - (2) Allmankind (2020), L'Eau Du Sud (2024) * [[Tingle Creek Chase]] - (1) [[Politologue]] (2020) * [[Kauto Star Novices' Chase]] - (1) Shan Blue (2020) * [[Finale Juvenile Hurdle]] - (1) Allmankind (2019) * [[Manifesto Novices' Chase]] - (1) Protektorat (2021) * [[Melling Chase]] - (1) Grey Dawning (2026) * [[Betfair Chase]] - (2) Protektorat (2022), Grey Dawning (2025) * [[Mersey Novices' Hurdle]] - (2) My Drogo (2021), Bossman Jack (2026) * [[Challow Novices' Hurdle]] - (1) The New Lion (2024)
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Skelton, Harry}} [[Category:1989 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:British Champion jumps jockeys]] [[Category:Lester Award winners]] [[Category:English jockeys]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Warwickshire]]