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07 Mar 2026
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07 Mar 2026
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Deafening Silence is the latest cab off the rank aiming to give Dan Skelton another major Saturday winner in the William Hill Half A Mill Grand National Trial at Haydock.
The likes of Panic Attack in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and the Coral Gold Cup, Grey Dawning in the Betfair Chase, Calico at Cheltenham and Ascot and The New Lion in the International Hurdle have all put Skelton in pole position to be champion trainer for the first time.
With over £50,000 on offer to the winner on Merseyside, Skelton has had the race mapped out since Deafening Silence finished third in the Welsh National behind Gold Cup hope Haiti Couleurs.
Skelton said: “I’ve had this race in mind for some time after the Welsh Grand National as he is obviously liking those marathon trips.
“I think he is in really good form and the track will suit him. How the race cuts up we don’t quite know, but I’m very happy with our horse going into it.
“I feel like he has proven that he stays that distance and his training has been good.
“I think he is pretty versatile ground wise now he is that bit older. I don’t think it holds any fears for him. I don’t have no negatives about his chances.”
While Deafening Silence does hold an entry in the Randox Grand National, his current handicap mark of 133 is some way below the usual cut off so Skelton is aware he needs to win this weekend to stand any chance of getting in.
He added: “We have entered him in the Grand National because he is a stayer and if he got in it would be an interesting entry.
“He has got a lot of horses to come out to get into the Grand National so I would say at the moment that is looking unlikely because of his handicap mark, but you have got to be in it if you want to run in it.
“I would say if he got into the Grand National, he would run in it and I feel he would take to the fences.
“He probably needs to win this quite handsomely to go up enough to get in the race.
“I think the Grand National is a massive step away at the moment, but Saturday could bring it closer.”
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