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 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.


and Brentford Hope proved hard foes, before The New Lion (9-4) ultimately got on leading 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 thinking it and we simply hope he is OK, it is very important.


"The team 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 way 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 exactly what I wanted 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 require those dives in a Champ Hurdle.


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


"It will be a completely various race in the Champion Hurdle and they've 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 stated: "I didn't even know what happened to Sir Gino and the 3 people stated at the top of the hill 'where is Nico?' and you do not desire that to take place. Hopefully they are both OK.


"We simply wished to get a lead and Nico desired a lead too and it just reveals you, that leading up to the Festival you desire these horses coming through these trials well and I'm just thrilled 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, doesn't have much experience and did what I desired him to do and it will do his self-confidence good. Hopefully he will return now in March.


"I've ridden in a Champ Hurdle and have not won one, however I would like to."