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 ruined by an injury to Sir Gino.
Billed as a match in between possibly the two best 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 5 furlongs at the Festival in March, before he asked him to quicken approaching the last.
Nemean Lion and Brentford Hope proved tough enemies, before The New Lion (9-4) ultimately got on leading to win by a length and a half.
Skelton stated: "I'm a huge fan of this sport and Sir Gino might be the finest horse in training and we simply didn't require that. We're all believing it and we simply 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 en route to winning the Unibet Hurdle throughout Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture date: Saturday January 24, 2026.
Of his winner he added: "We required to get a clear round after 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 considerate 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 Champion Hurdle.
"The unanswered concern 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 showed a lot of speed there also from turning in to the last and then from the last to the line.
"It will be a totally 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 alongside them however there is some who could."
Harry Skelton said: "I didn't even know what occurred to Sir Gino and the three 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 just wished to get a lead and Nico desired a lead too and it simply shows you, that leading up to the Festival you want these horses coming through these trials well and I'm just pleased he's got a clear round.
"We hacked round and ran and he's not brief of a gear and it just put a few manners on him a bit today. He's only young, doesn't have much experience and did what I wanted him to do and it will do his self-confidence great. Hopefully he will come back now in March.
"I've ridden in a Champ Hurdle and have not won one, however I want to."