The New Lion Wins Unibet Hurdle, However Cheltenham Feature Marred By
Dan Skelton's The New Lion won the Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham but the race was spoiled by an injury to Sir Gino.
Billed as a match between potentially the 2 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 speed up approaching the last.
Nemean Lion and Brentford Hope proved difficult adversaries, before The New Lion (9-4) ultimately got on top to win by a length and a half.
Skelton stated: "I'm a big fan of this sport and Sir Gino might be the finest horse in training and we simply didn't need that. We're all thinking it and we just hope he is OK, it is very important.
"The team at Seven Barrows have been through hell and back to get him back on track and hopefully he is OK."
The New Lion ridden by Harry Skelton (ideal) passes Brentford Hope ridden by Paul O ´ Brien on the method to winning the Unibet Hurdle during Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture date: Saturday January 24, 2026.
Of his winner he added: "We needed 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 jumps. He was a lot more respectful today and even down to the last Harry is wrestling him getting him into the bottom of them as he'll need those dives in a .
"The unanswered question with this horse is the speed angle and I believed he showed a great deal of speed at Newcastle regardless of us winding up on the floor. He showed a lot of speed there also from turning in to the last and after that from the last to the line.
"It will be an absolutely various race in the Champion Hurdle and they have actually gone round there at a crawl and I'm not stating I might have layed up together with them however there is some who could."
Harry Skelton said: "I didn't even understand what occurred to Sir Gino and the 3 of us stated 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 shows you, that leading up to the Festival you want these horses coming through these trials well and I'm just delighted he's got a clear round.
"We hacked round and ran and he's not except a gear and it just put a few good manners on him a bit today. He's just young, does not have much experience and did what I wanted him to do and it will do his confidence great. Hopefully he will return now in March.
"I have actually ridden in a Champ Hurdle and haven't won one, however I would like to."