Trainer Dan Skelton is hoping that The New Lion can continue his rise up the hurdling ranks by winning at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival next month.
The latest Cheltenham odds for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle rate the JP McManus-owned horse as a 3/1 shot to win the 2m5f contest on March 12.
The son of Kayf Tara was an impressive winner of the Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury over the festive period, taking his career record to four out of four.
The Alcester-based trainer took The New Lion to Huntingdon this week for a racecourse gallop and was pleased with how the horse performed under jockey Harry Skelton.
“I was delighted with The New Lion beforehand as much as anything, just how sharp he was and how switched on he was,” Skelton said.
“He’s laid-back at home and Harry was delighted with him and how he finished out. I would say he’s the best chance we’ve ever had heading to a novice at the festival, and I wouldn’t swap him.”
“The Turners is shaping up to be one of the races of the festival with Final Demand and The Yellow Clay in there.
“We could have run him in the Listed race here, but I backed off him after Newbury and he doesn’t need that now, even though we like to compete.
“Horses like him have maybe three, four or five days in them a year, and we’re happy where we are right now. We thank Huntingdon for letting us come and they are part of the Jockey Club, who we support.”
The New Lion will run in McManus’ green and gold colours at Cheltenham following his purchase of the horse from previous owner Darren Yates earlier this year.
Yates has been a big supporter of horse racing for several years, but he has decided to step back from the sport due to family commitments at the end of the season.
He brokered a deal with McManus through mutual contact Paul Byrne, but insisted the horse must remain with the Skelton stable in the future.
McManus was not only happy to oblige, but also agreed to Yates retaining a small interest in the horse. Yates says he can’t wait to see The New Lion run at Cheltenham.
“The deal massively suits JP and massively suits me,” Yates said. “I’m not going to go into it obviously, because JP wanted to keep it private, which is great with me.
“It does give me an interest in the horse moving forward as well. Let’s call it a bonus interest, depending on what he does in the future.
“I think JP was happy to do that and I was happy to do that. Even if I didn’t have a kicker, I’m not the type of person who’d sell a horse and want it to do badly – I’m desperate for him to win at Cheltenham.”
The biggest threat to The New Lion in the Turners Novices Hurdle will likely be Final Demand, who recently extended his unbeaten record at the Dublin Racing Festival.
The six-year-old finished 12 lengths clear of Wingmen in a Grade 1 race at Leopardstown and has been touted as a potential superstar by trainer Willie Mullins.
He described Final Demand as a ‘big unit’ and believes he has the engine to blow his rivals away at Cheltenham. However, The New Lion could give him a run for his money.
By Michael Cage
