The New Lion is now 11/4 second favourite in the Champion Hurdle betting odds after enhancing his chances of prevailing in the festival day one feature with a smooth success on Cheltenham Trials Day
Sir Gino went into Saturday’s contest as a strong ante-post market leader for the March 10 highlight, but sadly suffered a serious injury. That left the way clear for Harry Skelton and The New Lion to quicken up past outsiders Nemean Lion and Brentford Hope late on, as last season’s top novice bounced back from a Newcastle fall on his reappearance.
Trainer Dan Skelton said: “We needed 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.
“The unanswered question with this horse is the speed angle. I thought he showed a lot of speed at Newcastle despite us ending up on the floor. He showed a lot of speed there as well, from turning in to the last and then from the last to the line.”
Maestro Conti
Maestro Conti Makes Big Impression
The Skeltons had earlier struck with Maestro Conti, who is 8/1 for the Triumph Hurdle after powering up the hill to make it three out of three over timber.
“I’m very happy with him; he showed all the attributes we hoped he had and gave away a small penalty to a few in the field,” declared Dan Skelton. “He has a lot of style and a lot of class. I really liked how he came home there, he was given a chance to win, and he wanted to.”
Ma Shantou
Lavelle Has Another Star Stayer
Trials Day threw up several more festival pointers, with Ma Shantou cut to 6/1 for the Stayers’ Hurdle in the latest Cheltenham betting odds following a dominant display in the Cleeve Hurdle.M The fast-improving seven-year-old looked set to be challenged by market leader Impose Toi at the last but responded superbly to ultimately win going away by seven lengths.
Emma Lavelle, who pulled off the same double with Paisley Park in 2019, said: “He was impressive; he jumped, travelled and did everything right. “One of the things I love about this horse is he loves Cheltenham more than anywhere else - and if you are going to have a horse who loves a particular course, then Cheltenham is not a bad course to pick.
“I was unbelievably lucky to have one like Paisley Park and to think I’ve got another one that may be heading in that direction, I feel very spoilt, and we’re going to enjoy this journey as well.”
Other Tips
Other Tips
Jimmy Mangan’s Spillanes Tower is 12/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup after landing the Cotswold Chase, while fellow Irish raider Favori De Champdou is 5/1 for the Cross Country Chase after bolting up over the banks for Gordon Elliott.
Love Sign d’Aunou
Bumper Winner Likened To Florida Pearl.
Sunday saw Willie Mullins unveil a potential new star at Naas in Love Sign d’Aunou, who will look to provide the Closutton maestro with a record-extending 15th Champion Bumper success in March.
Carrying the familiar colours of Rich and Susannah Ricci, the point-to-point winner galloped his rivals into submission from the front, coming home with 24 lengths in hand. Rider Patrick Mullins commented: “Jasmin De Vaux won this bumper before he won in Cheltenham (in 2024), but he’d be a very different type of horse to him.
“He’s a relentless galloper, a big, strong horse. He could be along the lines of Florida Pearl, those Cheltenham bumper horses.”
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