FANS have been left shocked after jockey Harry Skelton was seen with a horror eye injury ahead of his races today.
Skelton rides L’Eau du Sud in the Arkle Challenge and Take No Chances in the Mares’ Hurdle this afternoon.
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But ahead of the opening race of the festival, the highly-rated jockey was seen with a painful-looking swollen eye.
There was also a nasty cut along the side of his brow that was held together by stitches.
It is currently unclear how Skelton sustained the injury.
But punters are unsure whether it is safe for him to be out on the turf, with one saying: “There is no way he should be riding today!”
Another added: “Surely he shouldn’t be allowed to ride like that.”
A third wrote: “I’m no doctor but that doesn’t look great.”
L’Eau du Sud is the 5/1 second favourite in the 14:00 race – behind only Majborough in the odds.
He then rides the 33/1 Take No Chances – with Lossiemouth tipped to win the 15:20.
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Skelton heads to Cheltenham with some pedigree, having previously rode nine winners in Gloucestershire.
He had a great 2024 with four victories, including retaining the Coral Cup on the back of Langer Dan.
The 35-year-old is the son of two-time Olympic gold medal-winning show jumper Nick Skelton and his brother Dan is the trainer of Take No Chances.
He is married to fellow jockey Bridget Andrews and they have a baby together called Rory, who was born in April last year.
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