The New Lion proved himself an exceptional novice hurdling prospect with a facile success in the Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury.
Trained by Dan Skelton, the unbeaten five-year-old was a course winner on his previous start, building on his earlier win over timber at Chepstow.
Sent off at 9/4, Harry Skelton was content to watch on from midfield as outsider Electric Mason led them, along with the strong-travelling Bill Joyce who was always in his slipstream.
Harry Cobden on Paul Nicholls’ 5/4 favourite Regent’s Stroll was a little further back and both the Ditcheat contender and The New Lion edged closer as the runners moved into the straight.
However, it was the Skelton charge that the eye was drawn to as The New Lion moved up menacingly to tackle Electric Mason and Bill Joyce at the last and the exceptional youngster barely broke sweat as he cantered home under a motionless pilot.
Jamie Snowden’s Wendigo kept on past beaten horses for second, with Regent’s Stroll unable to enhance his trainer’s fine record in the race coming home in fourth.
The New Lion is set to remain over an intermediate trip for a Cheltenham Festival bid in the spring, with Paddy Power making him a 4/1 chance from 12s for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park in March.
Unlimited Replays
of all UK and Irish races with our Race Replays
Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsThat's what sets the real good ones apart
"That was brilliant," said the trainer.
"I hoped he'd do something like that. An amazing performance. Harry was great on him. He was great the whole way round with his jumps. He's such a trainable, easy horse. Some horses just make life easy for you and he's one of those.
"It's the unassuming nature of the horse that makes it even more enjoyable because he's just so easy to do; sometimes those great horses have their little quirks and sometimes aren't easy but this one does it for me to be honest for you, he's so good.
"Let's hope he goes on to be as good as he might be based on that. There are no comparisons to be made as far as I'm concerned, he will be as good as he can be."
Dan Skelton refused the temptation to be drawn into comparing The New Lion to Denman and brother, Harry, was singing from the same hymnsheet.
"I won on some good novice hurdlers, Al Ferof, Rock On Ruby," he answered.
"They both went on to be very good racehorses and hopefully he can go on to be a very good racehorse too.
"We always hoped he could come and show everyone that and I think last time we probably didn't have him that tuned up and he probably just took a bit of a blow and I got racing a bit soon but he's really come on since then.
"He's got to keep progressing now but I think he was very impressive and we're delighted.
"What makes him very good I think is his mind. He wouldn't turn a hair at home, he walked round (the paddock here) loose, he's that good a temperament and I think that's what sets the real good ones apart and hopefully one day he can be really good."
Rome wasn't built in a day
When asked if the writing was on the wall for Regent's Stroll some way out, Nicholls responded: "It was on the wall the way he went down to post.
"He was very keen going to post which is why Harry dropped him in last and I thought he was always doing a bit too much. He's got to learn to relax.
"Harry thought he didn't run his race today but I still think he's a bit too keen. He's got to learn. He'll be a chaser but we've got to get some experience into him.
"I don't think he was at his best today but no excuses. He was never going to win as keen as he was. For us it's back to the drawing board and get some experience into him; Rome wasn't built in a day."

Timeform View: David Cleary
For the second day running, there was a sparkling performance from a potentially top-notch novice. And while The New Lion didn't run to the sort of outstanding rating that Sir Gino had managed over fences at Kempton, the effortless style of his victory in the Challow Hurdle marked The New Lion down as one that will be hard to beat, even by the best of the Irish, when it comes to the top novice hurdles in the spring.
The New Lion was helped by a strongly-run race, patiently ridden, taking a strong hold early before cruising into contention in the last half-mile, leading on the bridle entering the final furlong and quickening clear to score with any amount in hand. He retains his Timeform large 'P', indicating he's capable of significant improvement.
Even the bare performance looks up-to-scratch for the Challow, a view that would be supported by the overall time for the race. Wendigo was a surprise runner-up, and seemed to show quite a bit of improvement, though he picked up the pieces after those more involved in the race gave way and may be slightly flattered. Bill Joyce, for one, shaped better than the result, the last apart from The New Lion off the bridle having raced much closer to the pace than the winner.
The New Lion, the overnight favourite, had been displaced at the head of the market by another unbeaten runner, Regent's Stroll, who was bidding to give his trainer Paul Nicholls a fifth successive win in the Challow. However, Regent's Stroll was just sweating a touch, despite it being a cold afternoon, and looked short on experience when it came to the crunch.
More from Sporting Life
- Racecards
- Fast results
- Full results and free video replays
- Horse racing news
- Horse racing tips
- Horse racing features
- Download our free iOS and Android app
- Football and other sports tips
- Podcasts and video content
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.