The New Lion Wins Unibet Hurdle, But 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 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 five furlongs at the in March, before he asked him to accelerate approaching the last.


Nemean Lion and Brentford Hope proved tough adversaries, before The New Lion (9-4) eventually got on leading 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 require that. We're all believing it and we simply hope he is OK, it's essential.


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


The New Lion ridden by Harry Skelton (right) passes Brentford Hope ridden by Paul O ´ Brien en route to winning the Unibet Hurdle during 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 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 great deal of speed at Newcastle despite us ending up on the floor. He revealed a great deal of speed there too from kipping down to the last and then from the last to the line.


"It will be an absolutely different race in the Champion Hurdle and they've gone round there at a crawl and I'm not saying I could have layed up together with them however there is some who could."


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


"We simply desired to get a lead and Nico wanted a lead also and it just shows you, that leading up to the Festival you want these horses coming through these trials well and I'm just happy he's got a clear round.


"We hacked round and ran and he's not except an equipment and it just 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 confidence great. Hopefully he will come back now in March.


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