Everything looked to be going swimmingly for Dan Skelton’s 1-12 favourite, who had made all the running in the four-horse race. Protektorat was given a few strides to get his breath back before he breezed back to the front and won by eight and a half lengths. I was on a mixed stride and came up long but we got away with it,” said Harry Skelton. “He was a bit slow early on as a novice taking on handicappers for the first time, but he’s tough,” said Houlihan. “I wanted to make my challenge after the last and he kept going all the way to the line.

Source: Express February 28, 2026 15:36 UTC