FURIOUS horse trainer Dan Skelton has hit back in a bitter spat over the Grand National.
Skelton slammed senior BHA jumps handicapper Martin Greenwood for his ‘offensive’ comments on the ‘demise of the British National Hunt scene’.
Skelton, right, said he found the handicapper’s comments ‘offensive’ and then explained the complexities of entering a horse in the Grand NationalGetty
Greenwood was speaking after the entries for this year’s Aintree showpiece were revealed.
Of the 85 horses entered only 31 were from Britain, with the powerhouse Irish stables of Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott and Henry de Bromhead dominating.
Skelton, who entered two of his own, took exception to Greenwood’s comments.
He fumed: “I find the handicapper’s comments offensive.
“He’s an official of British racing and he shouldn’t be making comments like that.
“We don’t ask the referee as he comes off the pitch what he thinks. The official’s job is to officiate.
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“I thought it was a rather unhelpful comment.”
Greenwood is responsible for figuring out the weight each horse will carry – with the official announcement due next Tuesday.
The Grand National will be run on Saturday, April 15.
Greenwood used the case of last year’s 50-1 winner Noble Yeats as a key example in the changing complexion of the race.
He said: “I could only suggest it’s (the number of entries) a continuation of the demise of the British National Hunt scene and it’s part of a general picture.
“I think Irish trainers are still happy to enter horses with profiles that are unexposed and who have had less runs.
“British trainers have less horses, and I think we all realise that, but they’re still intent on entering horses that are a bit more exposed, have been around the block and can ‘prove’ their stamina, whereas the Irish trainers have got a much more open-minded approach.
“Previous runnings of the race back that up, with Noble Yeats being a perfect example.”
But Skelton, who has seen the Irish have the first three home in each of the last FOUR Nationals, hit back: “It costs £950 first entry, so you should only really be entering if you’re going to get in the race and it’s appropriate for your horse.
“Then you have to take into consideration the amount of horses who are actually eligible for it in Britain and that has diminished.
“I wouldn’t use the word ‘demise’ but numbers are down.
“You’re only going to get those horses who are eligible entered. We definitely have a few less in Britain than perhaps we did.”
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