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

Dan Skelton's The New Lion won the Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham however the race was marred 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 two miles and five furlongs at the Festival in March, before he asked him to accelerate approaching the last.


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


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


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


The New Lion ridden by Harry Skelton (best) 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 included: "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 battling him getting him into the bottom of them as he'll require those dives in a Champion Hurdle.


"The unanswered question with this horse is the speed angle and I thought he showed a lot of speed at Newcastle despite us ending up on the floor. He revealed a great deal of speed there as well from turning in to the last and then from the last to the line.


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


Harry Skelton said: "I didn't even understand what occurred to Sir Gino and the three of us stated at the top of the hill 'where is Nico?' and you do not desire that to happen. Hopefully they are both OK.


"We simply wanted to get a lead and Nico wanted a lead as well and it simply 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 sprinted and he's not except a gear and it simply put a couple of good manners on him a bit today. He's only young, doesn't have much experience and did what I desired him to do and it will do his self-confidence good. Hopefully he will come back now in March.


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