By Peter Moore at Newbury Saturday 28th December 2024 Picture by Peter Moore
The New Lion enhanced his glowing reputation with a first Grade 1 success after taking the main race of the day, The Coral Challow Hurdle over 2m 4 ½ furlongs at Newbury on Saturday.
Six of the seven runners had previously won their last race, with The New Lion looking to maintain his unbeaten run.
Under Harry Skelton the five-year-old was still on the bridle approaching the final flight before running on to win comfortably by 4 ¾ lengths with Skelton having the luxury of looking over his shoulder before easing the gelding near the line to win in impressive fashion.
After the race trainer Dan Skelton indicated the horse would go for the Turners Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
Skelton said: “It was an amazing performance. We hoped he’d be something like that so it’s amazing to see him go out there and do it.
“We’ve always thought he’s a bit special and he is very special. He’ll stick to middle distances [Turners] and he’s very straightforward. He’s so easy to deal with and will probably head straight to Cheltenham.”
The yard of Jonjo & AJ O’Neill bagged their fifth winner since boxing day after Peso took the 2m ½ f hurdle under Jonjo O’Neill jr with a 10 length success quickly followed by Jipcot who put the 2m 4 ½ f handicap hurdle to bed after jumping the final flight level with Mr Bramley before quickening up to score by 6 ½ lengths.
It was a third race for the Cheltenham yard after moving from Ben Pauling.
There was more family celebrations after the Williams father Evan and daughter Isabel combined to take the opener after pipping Break My Soul to the line.
The all familiar story line of another Saturday winner for Venetia Williams continued with The Famous Five taking the 2m ½ f Class 3 chase under Charlie Deutsch.
The six-year-old recovered from a bad mistake at the fourth last to get up on the line under a super ride from Deutsch to edge out The Good Doctor by a short Head.
Ben Jones has had a fruitful after Christmas spell with a double at Kempton yesterday following a Grade 1 success with The Jukebox Man On Boxing Day.
Rlengthspsul enry’s Friend, the seven-year-old had finished fifth in the Coral Gold Cup at the course a month ago.
Travelling well and always in the leading pack, Jones kicked on after the last to win by six lengths.
Paul Nicholls horses haven’t been running quiet to form recently, but the Ditcheat trainer finally had something to smile about after taking the last on the card with Inthewaterside.
Under Harry Cobden, the six-year-old led all the way with a promising round of jumping on his debut over fences.
Despite a mistake at the third last, Cobden had little to worry about with a 3 ½ length success over the Irish raider Moon D’Orange.