JOCKEY Harry Skelton continued his challenge for the National Hunt jockeys Championship at Hereford Racecourse on Wednesday when he recorded a 67/1 four-timer and moved onto the 119 winner mark, that reduced the gap to reigning champion jockey Brian Hughes to five winners in the title standings, writes Graham Saveker

Real Stone kickstarted the day for Skelton and trainer-brother Dan with a stroll around the Holmer track to record a 91 length win as the 1/10 favourite in the two mile five and a half furlong novice hurdle from his two other rivals, before juvenile hurdler Ambassador sealed a first win in the two mile maiden hurdle.

Global Harmony secured the treble in the extended three mile mares’ handicap hurdle and Stylish Dancer, who was sent off the biggest priced of the Dan Skelton-trained quartet of winners at 13/2, rounded off the day in the concluding two mile five and a half furlong handicap hurdle.

Skelton later commented to Sky Sports Racing: “My agent Ian Popham is working very hard, Dan and the team are doing a brilliant job with the horses and I have good friends around me, so I’m very lucky.

“I need to keep in one piece and just keep kicking.”

The impressive performance of Skelton’s four winners and two seconds from six rides took his overall record at the track this season to nine winners from 20 rides, with him finishing outside the first four just twice.

In the absence of injured stable jockey Adam Wedge, James Bowen continued his impressive form for trainer Evan Williams this season aboard To Be Sure in the extended three mile novice handicap chase, with this being Bowen’s fourth winner from his last 16 rides for the trainer.

This temporarily slowed the Skelton bandwagon as he could only finish second aboard the long-time leader Aheadfullofdreams

Bowen later completed his double at the track on Pottlereaghexpress in the two mile five furlong mares’ handicap chase leading home the only other finisher Barden Bella by 61 lengths following the second last fall of nearest pursuer Carpool.