The New Lion Wins Unibet Hurdle, However Cheltenham Feature Marred By

Dan Skelton's The New Lion won the Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham however the race was ruined by an injury to Sir Gino.


Billed as a match between potentially the two finest two-mile hurdlers in Britain, both were biding their time in the four-runner race when Sir Gino appeared to land awkwardly at the flight at the top of the hill and Nico de Boinville pulled him up.


Harry Skelton was content to take a lead for as long as possible on The New Lion, a winner over 2 miles and 5 furlongs at the Festival in March, before he asked him to accelerate approaching the last.


Nemean Lion and Brentford Hope showed tough foes, before The New Lion (9-4) eventually got on top to win by a length and a half.


Skelton stated: "I'm a huge fan of this sport and Sir Gino could be the best horse in training and we just didn't need that. We're all believing it and we just hope he is OK, it is necessary.


"The team at Seven Barrows have actually been through hell and back to get him back on track and ideally he is OK."


The New Lion ridden by Harry Skelton (ideal) passes Brentford Hope ridden by Paul O ´ Brien en route to winning the Unibet Hurdle throughout Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture date: Saturday January 24, 2026.


Of his winner he included: "We required to get a clear round after Newcastle and Harry did precisely what I desired him to do and held him into the bottom of all the dives. He was a lot more considerate today and even down to the last Harry is battling him getting him into the bottom of them as he'll require those jumps in a Champion Hurdle.


"The unanswered question with this horse is the speed angle and I believed he revealed a lot of speed at Newcastle in spite of us ending up on the flooring. He revealed a great deal of speed there as well from kipping down to the last and after that from the last to the line.


"It will be a completely different race in the and they've gone round there at a crawl and I'm not stating I might have layed up alongside them but there is some who could."


Harry Skelton stated: "I didn't even understand what occurred to Sir Gino and the 3 people said at the top of the hill 'where is Nico?' and you don't desire that to take place. Hopefully they are both OK.


"We simply wanted to get a lead and Nico wanted a lead as well and it just reveals you, that leading up to the Festival you desire these horses coming through these trials well and I'm simply pleased he's got a clear round.


"We hacked round and ran and he's not except a gear and it just put a couple of manners on him a bit today. He's just young, does not have much experience and did what I desired him to do and it will do his self-confidence great. Hopefully he will return now in March.


"I have actually ridden in a Champion Hurdle and haven't won one, however I want to."