Harry Skelton roars 'let's do it for Sir Alex' because Man United legend Ferguson deserves Scottish Grand National glory

Harry Skelton hopes L’Eau Du Sud can help brother Dan take the fight for the trainers title into Fergie Time.

The former champion jockey heads to Ayr with a book of strong chances at the showpiece Scottish Grand National meeting. Skelton can strike in the Scottish Champion Hurdle aboard L’Eau Du Sud and provide more big-race joy for Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson. The six-year-old is part-owned by the ex-Scotland, Aberdeen and United manager and favourite to win the two-mile showdown.

Team Skelton provided Fergie with one of his two winners at the Cheltenham Festival when Protektorat won the Ryanair Chase. Now, with the trainer Dan in a terrific battle with Willie Mullins and Paul Nicholls, rider Harry hopes to strike a blow. Skelton said: “Sir Alex is a great person who is ultra-competitive and he wants to win as much as all of us do. He’s very good and straightforward to ride horses for and he very much enjoys it.

“He’s good pals with Ged Mason and the Hales family and, obviously, the race is in his home country, so it would be great if we could pull it off and win him a Scottish Champion Hurdle. I think he’ll be there, so we’re looking forward to it. L’Eau Du Sud has had two really good runs this year in the Betfair Hurdle and County Hurdle and we’d be hoping he’ll go very close."

Skelton is also hoping for a strong performance from the stable’s representative in the weekend’s big race. Ballygriffin Cottage is set for the National and his pilot feels there’s a good show in the offing. He said: “He’s a horse who has come really back to form, to be honest.

“I think he’ll stay the trip, he was a good horse as a novice, enjoys soft ground and ticks a lot of the boxes. I hope he can be competitive.”

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