DAN Skelton was the sole trainer at last year’s Cheltenham Festival to win more than one handicap, and he repeated the dose on just one card on Wednesday when taking out the Coral Cup and Grand Annual.

Langer Dan became the first horse to win two Coral Cups when following up his success in the race of 12 months ago under Harry Skelton in the colours of Colm Donlon at 13/2.

The 141-rated winner had shown virtually nothing in the lead up to the Festival but came to life on the big day and capitalised on having the same attractive mark as last year. Ballyadam, representing Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore, posted a fine effort to finish second, while Shanbally Kid showed up well for Willie Mullins and Michael O’Sullivan in third.

“I’ve never been prouder of a result than this,” said the winning trainer.

“We have some big winners and Grade 1s and everything else, but I’ve never been prouder of a result than this because what people don’t know is that he had a surgery after winning this last year and so never made it to Aintree.

“Colm loves Cheltenham and unfortunately two of his big hopes went wrong two weeks ago so we were relying on this little horse. He had a terrible winter and bled on one occasion. We gastroscoped him and found ulcers, and it was a massive team effort to get him right.

“He won’t train at our main yard because he’s a quirky little customer and just won’t join in. Amber [Bly], who is leading him up, runs our second yard and when we worked him on Saturday and I told her to find the slowest horse we’ve got and somehow beat him on the gallops. He only won by a head, which just shows you what he’s like. He’s a little character, but what a character. He’s got his own clock and trains himself.”

BRITISH runners also dominated the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual, with Unexpected Party bouncing back to form to see off leading fancy Libberty Hunter (Harry Cobden/Evan Williams) for Harry and Dan Skelton.

Carrying the colours of the O’Reilly, Maclennan, Tynan, Carthy and Shanahan partnership, the 12/1 shot found generously for pressure up the hill to score by two and a quarter lengths.

The Gavin Cromwell-trained Path D’oroux and Gordon Elliott’s Sa Fureur fared best of the visiting team in third and fourth.

Dan Skelton said: “He was very brave over the last two fences - two big jumps over them. I would say I was surprised Harry got both big jumps, but fair play to the horse, he needed both of them.

“They are a pretty enthusiastic group of owners, to be fair, and Linda Shanahan has been every time we’ve been here, I think. The team involved in this horse are all Coolmore friends and relatives, so there will be an expected party after Unexpected Party!”

There was a worrying and noticeable drop in attendance on day two, with just 46,771 racegoers on site compared with 50,387 in 2023 and 64,431 in 2022.